Just passing through Cotentin? Don’t miss the Azeville Battery, an exceptional defensive site on the Atlantic Wall. We were impressed by this military complex made up of 4 imposing reinforced concrete casemates, linked by a vast network of underground galleries. This site, invisible from the sea when it was built, played a major strategic role in the defence of the eastern Channel coast during the Second World War.
In this article, you’ll find a selection of useful tips to help you prepare for your visit.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit the Azeville Battery near Utah Beach?
Is the Azeville Battery worth it? Our opinion:
Yes, it’s definitely worth the detour. It is featured in our article on the best German batteries in Normandy. We found the site impressive, with its 4 reinforced concrete casemates and 2 anti-aircraft guns. What really sets us apart, in our opinion, is the impressive network of concrete galleries and covered trenches that allow us to project ourselves concretely into the lives of the soldiers. Exploring these narrow underground passages offers a striking insight into the daily life of the garrison. This is one of Utah Beach’s must-do activities!
Why is the Azeville Battery famous?
This battery was invisible from the sea, a major tactical advantage for German forces. Its guns covered the eastern coast of the English Channel over a vast area stretching from the Bay of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue to the Bay of Veys.
The contrast between the two years of construction and the brevity of the fighting is also striking: the battery went into action on June 6, 1944, and the garrison surrendered just three and a half days later, on June 9, 1944.
Our favorite moments
Here are the 2 most memorable moments of our visit:
- Exploration of underground galleries linking casemates, fortified dwellings, factories and hospitals, among others. We were impressed by this labyrinthine concrete network, revealing the scale of the defensive complex.
- Imagine the lives of the 170 soldiers who made up the garrison, living alongside the 115 local residents. This human dimension gives a unique perspective on the Occupation.
History in brief
The history of the Azeville Battery is intense and concentrated around a few key dates:
- 1941-1944: Construction of the battery by the German Todt organization. It forms an important part of the Atlantic Wall, a vast coastal defensive system over 4,000km long, erected by Nazi Germany to protect against Allied landings.
- June 6, 1944: The battery was at the heart of the fighting from the very first minutes of the American landings on Utah Beach.
- June 9, 1944: The garrison, commanded by First World War veteran Hugo Treiber, surrenders to the American soldiers of the 4th Division after three and a half days of battle.
STAYING NEAR THE D-Day beaches
Option 1: Bayeux
The most practical option, in our opinion, is to base ourselves in the town of Bayeux. We recommend..:
- Hotel Domaine de Bayeux in an 18th century mansion – see prices, photos and availability
- see all top rated accommodations in Bayeux
Option 2: in the countryside
In the countryside around the D-Day beaches, you will find beautiful buildings with a lot of charm: farms, manors…
- Hotel Domaine d’Utah Beach – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Ferme de la Rançonnière – prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: next to one of the beaches
If you’re looking for a seaside holiday or are fascinated by one of the beaches, you can choose a more specific hotel:
- Hotel Villas d’Arromanches in Gold Beach Beach – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel La Sapinière in Omaha Beach Beach – prices, pictures and availability
Access: Azeville battery (Cotentin)
Where is the Azeville Battery?
- In the Manche department, east of the Cotentin peninsula
- In the commune of Azeville, at a place called La Rue
- Driving time from Sainte-Mère-Église: 10min
- Driving time from Utah Beach: 15min
- Driving time from Utah Beach Landing Museum: 20min
How to get there?
Access to the Azeville Battery is by car only. From the Route Nationale 13 linking Cherbourg to Caen, take the Joganville-Emondeville-Ecausseville exit, then follow the signs for Emondeville before reaching Azeville. Please note that there is no public transport to the site, so a personal vehicle is essential for this visit.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Parking
A parking lot with around 50 spaces is located at the end of the road, opposite the reception building. There’s also a place reserved for the disabled. Camper-vans have pitches on the grassy area, while a bike rack awaits cyclists at the entrance to the parking lot.
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
Choose a visit outside the summer season to avoid the region’s peak tourist season. Please note that the site closes in winter. As part of the tour takes place outdoors, we recommend that you choose mild spring or early autumn weather. Finally, it’s best to book outside school vacations to avoid groups and enjoy a more intimate discovery of the site.
Length of visit and main difficulties
Allow between 45min and 1h for a standard tour. The most enthusiastic visitors will be able to explore the site in greater depth for 2 hours 30 minutes, thanks to the 3 audio guide levels.
The site has been made partially accessible following works in 2019. However, the underground galleries are still narrow with stairs, making them inaccessible to baby carriages and wheelchairs. However, an external route is still possible. There are toilets on the other side of the road leading to the ticket office and store, with a disabled-accessible toilet block. For tailored support, contact the site beforehand on (+33) 2 33 40 63 05 or visit the official website here.
Advice on how to visit
Simply follow the numbering on the 17-step audio guide. On your own, you’ll explore 300m of underground galleries, including ammunition bunkers, tobrouks and personnel shelters. Then, on the outside, visit two of the 4 casemates. This logical organization will enable you to gradually understand how the defensive complex works.
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Visiting with children
The Azeville Battery offers a multilingual audio tour specially designed for children aged 7 to 12. The bookshop also has a children’s section to extend the discovery. Guided tours, workshops and readings are organized throughout the year. Visit the official website for more info here.
Schedules and rates
The site is open from the February vacation season to November 2nd, with changing opening times according to the season. February 10 to April 6: 11:30am-5:30pm Monday to Thursday. April 7 to July 6: 10am-6pm daily, closed May 1. July 7 to August 31: 9.30am-7pm daily. September 1 to November 2: 11.30am-6pm, closed on Saturdays.
Adult admission is €8, children under 7 free. Check out the latest news on the official website here.
Guided tours
Audioguides for adults are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese. For children, you’ll find them in French, English, German and Dutch.
Guided tours are available during school vacations. Find out more here.
On Tuesdays during the spring and summer vacations, discover a special 1h45 guided tour (booking required): “When the personal archives of the battery commander, as well as those of other soldiers in the garrison, help us to better understand the Occupation and D-Day, as experienced from the German side”. Visit the official website for more info here.
Catering
Whether at the battery or in the village of Azeville, you won’t find a bakery or other fast-food outlet. However, a picnic area with six tables for 6 to 8 people, including a wheelchair-accessible table, is on site. Pack a snack beforehand, or drive to Sainte-Mère-Église for more options.
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Observing the defensive complex from the outside
Before entering the galleries, take a step back to observe the battery’s defensive architecture. We were struck by the sheer size of the complex and its strategic layout. A question may then arise in your minds: why set up a battery in Azeville, a remote commune in relation to the coast? The answer lies in a perfectly thought-out strategic location…
In 1942, the German army identified the commune of Azeville, set back from the coast and a few kilometers from Sainte-Mère-Église, as a strategic base. You’ll discover a battery invisible from the sea, which was a major defensive asset. The Azeville Battery was tasked with protecting the east coast of the English Channel from a possible landing. Its guns covered a vast area stretching from the Baie de Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue to the Baie des Veys. Take time to observe the massive casemates that testify to the importance attached to this site by the German forces.
Entering the concrete galleries
Don’t forget to press number 1 on your audioguide to start the tour as you enter the galleries. Then explore the underground galleries linking casemates, fortified dwellings, a factory and a hospital. We were impressed by the extent of this underground network, which reveals the full complexity of the installation. Imagine what life was like for the 170 soldiers who made up the garrison in these confined, cold, narrow spaces. You’ll see strategic openings where soldiers posted themselves to keep an eye on the surrounding area. The oppressive atmosphere gave us a better understanding of their daily lives.
Don’t miss the Nevada shell that pierced a defensive wall. Slip into the soldiers’ shoes at the moment of impact: imagine the violent jolt and the deafening crash. How do you feel? Fear, dread? This tangible trace of the battle makes the site particularly moving and reminds us of the violence of the confrontations that took place here during those three and a half days of intense battle.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a store at the Azeville Battery?
Yes, located in the reception building. The 50m2 bookshop has several departments: youth, comics, local history, Atlantic Wall, novels and local products. You’ll also find a range of books in foreign languages: English, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. The store features 160 World War II-related comic strip titles.
Is Utah Beach worth a visit?
Absolutely! It is one of the 5 Normandy landing beaches, although it was not included in Eisenhower and Montgomery’s plan until 1943. This beach in the Cotentin region enabled the Allies to capture the port of Cherbourg more quickly.
On June 6, 1944,Utah Beach was the first to be stormed by 23,000 American soldiers. Today, it is surrounded by numerous museums, including theAirborne Museum.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Normandy
Inspiration destinations
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Practice
- Where to stay in Normandy – best places and hotels
- See our tips for renting a car at CDG airport, Orly airport, Beauvais airport, Caen, Rouen, Bayeux…
