Paul Hermans via Wiki Commons

Field Marshall Erwin Rommel visits the Belgian Coast, picture taken in April 1944

Paul Hermans via Wiki Commons 

Tim Bekaert via Wiki Commons

​​The Atlantic Wall was a system of coastal defences and fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944. Atlantikwall Raversyde is one of the best-preserved sections of this German defence line, with more than sixty bunkers, open and underground passages, observation posts and gun emplacements. There are two batteries: Battery Aachen dates from World War I, whilst Battery Saltzwedel-neu was built during World War II.&nbsp;​This unique bunker complex from WWI and WWII is located in the dunes overlooking the sea and was awarded a European Heritage Award in 2022. Erwin Rommel, a well-known German Field Marshal in World War II, visited several times in 1943 to 1944 to inspect the progress of the works.​​The permanent photo exhibition “Atlantic Wall” by Belgian photographer Stephan Vanfleteren provides an insight into the 2,600 km long Atlantic Wall that ran from Norway to the Bay of Biscay.&nbsp;​The remains of the German concrete structures are portrayed in a unique black-and-white style, and the exhibitions reveals their fate over time from the influence of nature, weather and wind.&nbsp;​At the entrance, visitors can discover a 75-metre-long panorama with more than 80 photographs taken by the American Air Force on 4 August 1945, depicting the entire Belgian coast from De Panne to Knokke-Heist.​&nbsp;

Belgium 

The Atlantikwall Raversyde in Oostende, Belgium features over 60 bunkers, observation posts and artillery positions of the German ‘Atlantikwall’, the defence line constructed by the Germans during WWII. The open-air museum is spread over two kilometres and constitutes one of the best preserved parts of the Atlantic Wall. The museum also displays uniforms and equipment used by the garrison.

Atlantikwall Raversijde

Nieuwpoortsesteenweg 636, 8400 Oostende, Belgium

Photos