On a camping holiday in Normandy, sea enthusiasts and the curious can discover a unique space in France dedicated to the fascinating world of oceans: the Cité de la Mer, in Cherbourg.
Visit and Activities
The Cité de la Mer is an exhibition and activity center for the whole family, located in the port of Cherbourg. It’s a leisure park that allows visitors to discover the marine world in a fun way.
At the heart of the visit are 2 unique activities: “The Ocean of the Future” and “We Walked Under the Sea”.
“The Ocean of the Future” is a fun and educational dive into the world of oceans. It features 17 aquariums, including Europe’s deepest aquarium, numerous images, and explanatory videos.
“We Walked Under the Sea” is an immersive 50-minute virtual adventure. You undergo real training (including underwater communication) before entering a diving simulator and discovering the marine world.
The Cité de la Mer Exhibitions
In addition to these 2 activities, the Cité de la Mer offers 4 exhibition spaces.
- “Le Redoutable” is a real nuclear submarine dating from the 1960s. It was decommissioned in 1991 and brought to Cherbourg. It can be visited with an audio guide. Inside, you discover the cramped life of the 135 submariners who worked there 300m below the water’s surface.
- “The Great Gallery of Machines and Men” is an exhibition dedicated to submarines. Real machines on display allow visitors to imagine exploring the ocean depths.
- “Titanic, Return to Cherbourg” evokes the voyages to America and the tragic fate of the famous Titanic. Located in the Baggage Hall, this immersive and fascinating exhibition recounts the sinking and the investigation that led to the discovery of the wreck.
- “Cherbourg, 1944” is a set of 2 spaces covering the 20 days in June 1944 between the D-Day landings and the liberation of Cherbourg. In addition to various period images, a 20-minute film is shown.
Rates and Opening Hours
The Cité de la Mer is open from February to December with variable hours, generally from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. In July and August, it is open every day from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
It really takes a full day to fully enjoy the Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg. However, it is possible to go out for lunch and return afterward, as the ticket is valid for the entire day. Inside, there is also a restaurant, “Le Quai des Mers,” and a souvenir shop.
The adult rate is €19. Young people aged 5 to 17 pay €12 for admission, and children under 5 enter for free. For students and people with disabilities, there is a rate of €15 (€11.50 for young people). Please note that children under 5 cannot, for safety reasons, visit the submarine.
It takes about forty minutes to drive from Utah Beach campsite to the Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg. The Cité de la Mer is an amazing place for both young and old, not to be missed during our camping trip in Normandy!