Festung Guernsey (Fortress Guernsey) is a group of volunteers who renovate and maintain many of the German Fortifications around the island. Tuk Tuk Guernsey are pleased to have access to three of the most important fortifications built in Guernsey by the German occupying forces between 1940-45. These are not normally open to the public.
These sites are:
Batterie Mirus - located on an impressive site on the West coast it was the largest battery built in the Channel Islands. The four 30.5cm gun emplacements each had their own underground ammunition stores, plant rooms and crew accommodation for 72 soldiers. Much of the structure remains intact with renovation work on-going in the 20 impressive underground rooms in Gun Emplacement No1.
Batterie Scharnhorst - following a long running project to fully uncover the Schwabenland and Brandenberg emplacements, which included the excavation of partially filled in gunsites as well as nearby bunkers and trenches, Batterie Scharnhorst, which is situated on private land, can now be fully explored. The tour include access to the ammunition stores and personnel shelters.
Fort Houmet - the Fort Houmet gun casement bunker is a fully restored gun casement that was constructed on the Vazon Bay headland. This was a key location in the island's WWII defences. Originally totally buried Festung Guernsey excavated the M19 bunker and carried out extensive restoration and reconstruction of the damaged turret room and turret. Having recovered and restored a M19 automatic mortar, now reinstalled, it is the only place on the Atlantic Wall; where you can see an original M19 refitted into a type 633 bunker. This gives a real insight into what life in a German fortification would have been like in this series of bunkers.
YOU CHOOSE
You can choose to visit any or all of the three sites. You decide.
Typical visit times are 30 minutes for Batterie Scharnhorst, 45 minutes for Batterie Mirus and 30 minutes for Fort Houmet. But you can choose just how long you wish to visit. These are not fully guided tours but your knowledgeable Tuk Tuk driver will provide an informed overview whilst leading you through the tour. Just add in sufficient travelling time and perhaps include a scenic tour to and from your preferred collection point.
Costs are based upon £60 per hour for the Tuk Tuk (which carries two passengers). Allow an additional £5 per person per booking as a donation towards Festung Guernsey.
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