{"id":22517,"date":"2026-04-02T14:32:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8000\/bonnes-pratiques\/saint-nazaire-france-valorising-ww2-heritage-structures\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T13:45:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T11:45:04","slug":"saint-nazaire-france-valorising-ww2-heritage-structures","status":"publish","type":"bonnes-pratiques","link":"https:\/\/aivp.org\/en\/best-practices\/saint-nazaire-france-valorising-ww2-heritage-structures\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint-Nazaire (France): Valorising WW2 heritage structures"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saint-Nazaire<\/a>‘s submarine base<\/a>, constructed by the Nazis during World War 2, spans 301 meters and used nearly 500,000 cubic meters of concrete. Completed in just 16 months, it served as a refuge for U-boats and personnel until May 1945, situated on the historic site of the original transatlantic port.<\/span><\/p>\n

This submarine base has been transformed into a captivating tourist destination and a cultural centre. The rooftop has been converted to a terrace for the tourist and local communities to enjoy the port, city and the estuary. Over the past two decades, extensive renovations have seamlessly integrated this historic submarine base into the city’s urban fabric. Saint-Nazaire has reclaimed its original port, revitalising it into a vibrant hub for tourism and culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the outset of the Saint-Nazaire City Port project, the submarine base presented a significant challenge due to its immense concrete structure and historical ties to World War 2. However, with night-time illumination by Yann Kersalé<\/a> in 1991 as part of the “La Nuit des Docks<\/a>” initiative, coupled with redevelopment efforts on select submarine pens by Manuel de Solà Moralès, the base has evolved into an emblematic symbol of Saint-Nazaire<\/a>. This transformation has fostered a renewed relationship between the city and its port.<\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2014, a light show was inaugurated within four of the base’s pens, illuminating their interiors to highlight the site’s distinctive character and history. This project was a collaborative effort between the city and lighting designer Virginie Voué. Serving as a driving force behind the City Port project, the base also functions as a cultural and tourist gateway, hosting facilities like “Escal’Atlantic,<\/a>” a center explaining the history of ocean liners, “Cultural Life<\/a>,” a venue for concerts and cultural events, and the “VIP” area dedicated to contemporary music.  These areas of waterfront are used again and again for seasonal events<\/a>, such as the Festival de la Vannerie, which takes place every July, the Journées européennes du Patrimoine, which takes place every September, or the Fééries de Decembre, which takes place every December.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional information<\/span><\/p>\n

Stunning Saint Nazaire<\/a><\/p>\n

The submarine base of Saint-Nazaire<\/a><\/p>\n

Yann Kersalé<\/a><\/p>\n

La Nuit des Docks<\/a><\/p>\n

Light Artist Yann Kersale Makes Sculptures That Disappear Using The Night As His Canvas<\/a><\/p>\n

Escal’Atlantic<\/a><\/p>\n

Cultural Life<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saint-Nazaire‘s submarine base, constructed by the Nazis during World War 2, spans 301 meters and used nearly 500,000 cubic meters of concrete. Completed in just 16 months, it served as a refuge for U-boats and personnel until May 1945, situated on the historic site of the original transatlantic port. This submarine base has been transformed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","pays-bp":[10531],"ville-bp":[10569],"organisme-bp":[10571,10570],"engagement-bp":[10422],"aivp_topic":[],"class_list":["post-22517","bonnes-pratiques","type-bonnes-pratiques","status-publish","hentry","pays-bp-france","ville-bp-saint-nazaire","organisme-bp-nantes-saint-nazaire-port","organisme-bp-ville-de-saint-nazaire","engagement-bp-6-culture-et-identite-portuaires"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSaint-Nazaire (France): Valorising WW2 heritage structures – AIVP<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Saint-Nazaire (France): Valorising WW2 heritage structures – AIVP\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Saint-Nazaire‘s submarine base, constructed by the Nazis during World War 2, spans 301 meters and used nearly 500,000 cubic meters of concrete. 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