Bunker hunting in Calais

[bigduke6]

I mentioned sometime back I would be returning to Calais, A mate of mine was after a tax night so was a perfect opportunity to kill some time, must admit I never realised what is buried in the sand along that coastline, if you google Calais port and switch to satellite then zoom in to the beech area on the left of the Port, keep going left along the beech you will come across some beech huts, and where theses finish the first Casemate is visible, this is one that has broke its back and snapped off, if you go further along the second one is visible and view the the beech and the green vegetation of the sand dunes there should be outlines of a concrete mass.

I can't find much info on this area, but have yet to read the newly acquired books,







couldn't get through this door,


And don't try this unless your with someone.......




Further along is a really good example of a casemate (only just learned the proper term)

looks small on the approach and even in the pic, for a scale of the size my mate was climbing up, he is ex Infantry so went straight in, myself (REME reserve) I chose the more accessible route on the left flank












This building seemed odd, compared to all the concrete surrounding the area, but it is dated,








On a final note, (some may find it upsetting) but there are still some grim and stark reminders of what this was all about, as its coming up to the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Think we all need to give a minutes silence for all of those who lost there lives fighting against this......

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[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Amazing photos! I find the graffiti and litter a bit disheartening but I suppose that is the world in which we reside. I just went back over the photos and caught the one with someone climbing the face which gave perspective on the enormity of the structure!

[Flying10uk]

Amazingly well built but one does feel for the slave and forced labour who built many of these structures.

The graffiti is unfortunate but a simple solution may-be to make those doing the damage clean it up if they are caught.

[bigduke6]

caught the one with someone climbing the face which gave perspective on the enormity of the structure!

That was my mate, I went round the left side and just hoped up and walked round on the small ledge, thats me with my feet sticking out on one of the previous pics, He give me a bunk up but I did warn him there will be some weight on them hands, " Very colourful language was heard "

[Peter Laidler]

Amazing..... We drive past them all the time on the way to Dusseldorf but never think anything of them. I'll stop and ponder next week....... Thanks Geoff.

[Gil Boyd]

Real shame that grafitti..................good job I don't live nearby. Its a shame the local Mayori doesn't apply for listed status to keep them in a decent state. They have certainly lasted the test of time, built by prisoners who know doubt later died. Similar to the thousands of Chinese who built Jersey and the Channel Islands concrete marvels................another story!

[bigduke6]

Gill, It is a shame, but think its down to lack of education....... when we were walking back to the car park we discovered one that is well out of eyes view now fully overgrown apart from the distinct curve on one side.

The whole area I guess is a rabbit warrens nest, most now covered up or filled in by sand. I've more photos to add but last night was planning my route etc to Normandy, as I type just left Hull......

Peter, You wil have to double back on yourself when leaving the port and head for the town centre then the beech front, at the end is a car park then its shanks pony......... if you ever did any training in sand then its just the same, knackering after a few steps but well worth it...... but sand in every crevice.