A rare piece of history is up for sale in Normandy…a Napoleonic and WWII German gun battery complex overlooking Cherbourg Harbour.
The Amfreville Battery (sometimes listed under its German designation within the Marineküstenbatterie system) was part of the coastal defence network protecting the Cherbourg fortress zone, one of the most heavily fortified sectors of the Atlantic Wall. Located northwest of Amfreville, near the tip of the Cotentin Peninsula, the battery covered approaches to Cherbourg from the west and north, where the U.S. Navy and ground forces would eventually attack in June 1944.
It was operated by the Kriegsmarine, not the army, and belonged to the larger system of naval coastal artillery defending Cherbourg’s deep-water port, vital for Germany, and desperately needed by the Allies after D-Day.
During the Battle of Cherbourg from 22 to 25 June 1944, as U.S. VII Corps tightened its grip on the city, the U.S. Navy brought in battleships, cruisers, and destroyers to batter and neutralise the German coastal defences.
The battery came under bombardment from the British cruisers HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise, both using their 6-inch (160 mm) guns. The position fired back, and one of its salvos scored a hit that left Glasgow damaged. During these operations, Amfreville also opened fire on vessels including the battleships Texas, Arkansas, and Nevada, the heavy cruisers Quincy and Tuscaloosa, and several destroyers making perilously close bombardment runs. These same ships returned fire, hammering the battery over successive days.
Now, if you’ve ever fancied owning part of the Atlantic Wall, this might be your chance. The sprawling site at Querqueville / Amfreville (Stp 277) – known during the war as Battery Yorke – defended the approaches to Cherbourg.
What Do You Get?
Closed to the public for decades while used by the French Army as a training area, it’s now on the market… and what a site it is.
You’ll find massive German-built casemates, underground tunnels, and even remains of earlier Napoleonic gun positions.
There’s a large underground hospital, flak positions, tobruk pits, bunkers, living quarters, and ammunition stores still intact.
The gated driveway leads up to the battery, offering complete privacy and panoramic views across the harbour and coast.
There’s even talk of a water reservoir that could become an infinity pool… and a three-storey observation tower that could be converted into living space.
It’s easy to imagine the place restored as a boutique hotel, a private estate, or even opened to the public as a WWII museum.
Serious?
Search “Cherbourg Batterie Yorke” or “Stp 277 Amfreville (York)” on Google to see the site for yourself.
If you’re seriously interested, you can contact the selling agent Carine Napoliello directly at [email protected] or by phone on (France) 06 75 92 69 35 (French or English).
Now that’s one property listing that makes Rightmove look a bit dull…
If you’re seriously interested, you can contact the selling agent Carine Napoliello directly at [email protected] or by phone on (France) 06 75 92 69 35 (French or English).
