In the commune of Helfaut, less than 1 hour from Dunkirk or Hazebrouck, the Coupole of Saint-Omer is a historic centre and a 3D planetarium: it is at the same time a place dedicated to the memory of times spent under the Nazi occupation and turned towards the future, as the museum proposes an immersive journey into space.
The Coupole is a immense bunker, a remnant of the Second World War and the occupation of France by the Germans. This bunker was built in 1943 by the Nazis and was destined to be the launching base for V2 Rockets directed against London. This very impressive dome was built by slave labourers, as were the rockets that were constructed by the deportees of the Dora concentration camp, situated in the heart of Germany.
The bunker presents itself as a large concrete dome, concealing a maze of very complex tunnels that used to serve as a base for the bombardment of southern England. The Coupole was heavily bombarded by the Allies in 1944 following the landings, it was abandoned by the Germans, then requisitioned and partly destroyed to prevent it from serving as a military base to anyone else.
It was only in the 1980's that the dome was reinvested to become a centre of history and memory, and was opened to the public in 1997. To date, nearly 2 million people have already visited the site.
Two tours are proposed by the museum, in the heart of the dome and its gloomy tunnels: a tour, where you can discover the history of the V1 and V2 rockets and their inventor, and a tour where you can walk in the footsteps of those who lived in France under occupation and what that involved in terms of the resistance, the exodus and daily life.
The dome is also a planetarium, as the V2 rocket is the ancestor of the rockets that were later invented. A 360° projection room with 3D technology will take you on a spectacular journey through space.
You will discover the universe, from the Moon to Mars, on board a space shuttle!
The dome has even recently become the second Astronomy School of France, with its willingness to popularize and educate visitors, a crossing between history and science. The centre proposes several astronomy courses and initiations. An outing for all ages, not to be missed, in the region of Saint-Omer.
To prepare your visit and dind out more about the Coupole of Saint-Omer
You can continue your discovery of Saint-Omer's rich heritage by staying in a 19th-century neo-Flemish château. Park, swimming pool, golf course: the ideal place for a relaxing break in the heart of the breathtaking Marais Audomarois.
Aphélie from Comme des Français
-----
Continue your trip to Saint-Omer with these other articles
Photos credits : Clare Wilkinson and Comme des Français