Saint-Nazaire submarine base

The Saint-Nazaire submarine base is about 300 m long, more than 120 m wide and around 18 m high; sources give the width as 130 to 150 m. It is one of five large bunker complexes that Germany built in occupied France. Construction began in early 1941, and on 30 June 1941 Karl Dönitz opened the base. It has 14 pens, and the roof consists of several layers of reinforced concrete, granite and steel beams and is, depending on the source, 4 to 8 m thick; roughly 450,000 to 480,000 m³ of concrete were used. Since 1994 the city has been converting the complex; it now houses Escal'Atlantic and the submarine Espadon, among other attractions. Escal’Atlantic tells the story of the transatlantic liners over three levels, and the view from the roof is considered especially rewarding for photos of the port.

The roof offers 360-degree views over the port and the estuary. You reach it by a ramp or a lift; ask the tourist office for opening times. Allow an hour for the terrace and longer for the museums. Tours of the Airbus plant also meet at the base, mostly on Wednesdays and Fridays (as of October 2026, check in advance).