La Coupole, History Centre and 3D Planétarium
La Coupole, located 5 km from Saint-Omer (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), is one of the most impressive remnants of the Second World War in Europe. It is a symbolic place of the Nazi oppression, due to its overwhelming mass, the nature of its underground facilities and the suffering of the slave labourers who built it.
La Coupole facts and figures : A dome … 55 000 tonnes of reinforced concrete, 5.5 m thick, 71 m in diameter.
This huge bunker, built by the Todt Organisation in 1943-1944 had to be the base for launching the V2 rockets against London.
Rehabilited in History Centre, La Coupole offers two tours. The first circuit, “Hitler’s secret weapons”, follows in the footsteps of Wernher von Braun, the German engineer behind the V2 rocket and Man’s first steps on the moon. The second circuit, “The North of France in German hands”, examines the major periods of the Occupation: the invasion, exodus, daily life, the Resistance, collaboration and the Liberation.
At the end of the tour you can find a moving passage, symbolized by a memorial, dedicated to the people of Nord-Pas-de-Calais who were shot and deported.
Today, on the launching site, the simply spectacular Planetarium offers you an unforgettable journey into space. Take place inside the massive 360-degree room wearing your active 3D glasses and travel through the universe. Step onto Mars with the Curiosity rover and discover all sorts of other celestial happenings.