Some lines of history

Back in the 1930's Cherbourg was one of the main transatlantic port with more than 200 000 pax per year ! Cherbourg used to be the port of the great departure for emigrants on their way to New York.

Unveiled on the July 30th, 1933 by the President of French Republic Albert Lebrun, the transatlantic terminal of Cherbourg in Normandy is an Art deco masterpiece that registered in 1989 in the additionnal inventory of historical monuments within architectural heritage of the 30's.

Unique in Europe, this building has a special charm and history. It stays as a testimony of the great period of the liners and of the emigration from old Europe to the States between the 30's and till the 50's. In this period, luxury trains directly linked transatlantic terminal to Paris.

So 30's to 60's, great years for the transatlantic terminal that has seen the most important French and American stars such as Fernandel, Charlie Chaplin, Liz Tailor or Richard Burton.

This building demolished at the end of World War Two. It lost its clock tower that will never rebuilt. It also given up for port traffic in the 80's.

Since 2002, it hosts "La Cité de la Mer" a museum dedicated to the sea and its conquest by human.