La Cité de la Mer
Make the most of your stay at the L’Escapade campsite in Calvados to visit La Cité de la Mer, around 1h30 (100 kilometers) away. Housed in Cherbourg’s transatlantic ferry terminal, an Art Deco masterpiece, the Cité de la Mer lets you discover how mankind came to understand the underwater world and gain access to the depths. If Cherbourg en Cotentin is known for its military port, its harbor, its marina and its famous Cherbourg umbrellas, its virtual aquarium is now a must-see.
The virtual world of Cité de la Mer
Making the most of new technologies, Cherbourg’s Cité de la Mer invites visitors to take a virtual plunge into the ocean depths, with a range of activities suitable for all ages, including “We walked under the sea” and ” The Ocean of the Future “.
“We Walked Under the Sea” is a 50-minute tour of a secret base, Hadale 31, led by Captain Glass. Your survival instinct and ability to react will be put to the test. Set up in a simulator, you’ll have to learn how to combat seasickness and communicate at depths of several meters. On your virtual journey, you’ll see underwater volcanoes and sperm whales. A great trip for the whole family to enjoy and learn together. This attraction is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
In “The Ocean of the Future”, you’ll get lost in multimedia spaces spread over three floors, featuring 17 aquariums, including one over 10 m deep. From plankton to sharks and sperm whales, the tour will show you all the wonders that lurk beneath the seas and raise your awareness of the fragility of the blue planet.
For more information on La Cité de La Mer, click HERE.
Route Nationale 13 is easy to get to and completely free of charge. Take advantage of this day to visit the Cotentin region, enjoy water sports on the Normandy coast, or head for the Val de Saire, the little-known part of the département de la manche. Full of charm, Saint Vaast-la hougue awaits you for an oyster tasting or a visit to Tatihou. You can also choose the Anglo-Norman islands as a stopover during your stay!
Unique exhibitions in Cherbourg
The Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg is also a cultural space devoted to a wide variety of beautiful exhibitions, and is undoubtedly one of the places to visit in Normandy.
The Great Gallery of Machines and Men
A large collection of submarines that have allowed men to venture into the depths of the sea and approach wrecks like the Titanic.
Titanic
A reconstruction of part of the mythical ship that ran aground before reaching America, an immersive journey to learn more about life aboard the Titanic and the collision that led to her tragic sinking.
Aboard the submarine Le Redoutable
An astonishing adventure in a nuclear submarine, with several areas such as the engine room and torpedo room to discover on an audio tour (35 minutes).
Cherbourg 1944
Striking, never-before-seen photographs bring to life the landings of June 6, 1944 from a new angle, that of civilians.
Rates and opening hours
In 2020, the Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg will be open every day without interruption:
February 8 to March 8: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
March 9 to April 3: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April 4 to June 30: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
July-August: 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
September: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
La Cité de la Mer offers different rates:
General entrance
19 € per adult / 14 € for visitors aged 5 to 17 / Free for children under 5. Reduced rates are available for students and the disabled (between €11.50 and €15).
Pass Complicité (one-year pass with unlimited visits)
22 € per adult / 17 € for visitors aged 5 to 17. This pass entitles the holder to a number of benefits: discounts for accompanying persons, restaurant and store products, queue-cutting tickets, free exhibitions, access to the media library…
Tour ticket + lunch: €36.40
Option to book a tour with a biologist or submariner (+€3.50 per visitor).
