A Guide to Visiting Jersey’s Second World War Bunkers
Jersey is one of the best places in Europe to explore surviving German fortifications from the Second World War. Across an island measuring just nine miles by five are hundreds of bunkers, gun positions, observation towers, tunnels and other defensive structures constructed during the German Occupation of 1940–1945.
Why Sunday is the Best Day for Bunker Exploring in Jersey
Many can be seen from public footpaths and coastal walks throughout the year, but if you really want to get inside Jersey’s bunkers, Sunday is the day to visit. This is when the volunteers and enthusiasts who preserve Jersey's wartime fortifications traditionally open a number of sites to the public. Charity & Non-Profit Organisations the Channel Islands Occupation Society (CIOS) & Jersey War Tours maintain and open fortifications which would otherwise remain locked. Rather than simply looking at a concrete structure from the outside, a Sunday visit can give you the opportunity to walk through underground command posts, gun bunkers, observation towers and tunnel systems while meeting some of the people directly involved in researching and restoring them.
Why Does Jersey Have So Many Bunkers?
The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles occupied by German forces during the Second World War. Following the German occupation of Jersey in July 1940, the island was gradually transformed into a heavily fortified position. This process accelerated dramatically after Adolf Hitler ordered the Channel Islands to be strongly defended. Jersey subsequently became part of the Atlantikwall – the Atlantic Wall, the enormous system of German coastal defences stretching from Norway to the French-Spanish border. The resulting fortifications included coastal artillery batteries, anti-tank gun positions, machine-gun bunkers, mortar bunkers, observation and range-finding towers, personnel shelters, ammunition bunkers and extensive underground tunnel systems. More than eighty years later, an extraordinary amount of this military landscape survives.
Sunday – Jersey's Bunker Day
If military history is an important part of your visit, it is worth arranging your Jersey holiday so that you have at least one full Sunday on the island. Sundays provide the best opportunity to find restored bunkers open and staffed by volunteers. Sunday openings provide an opportunity not only to enter these structures but also to meet volunteers who understand their history, construction and restoration. The funds raised from buying tickets to visit these sites help support the ongoing efforts by two organisations of volunteers.
The Channel Islands Occupation Society – CIOS The Channel Islands Occupation Society (Jersey) has been researching, preserving and restoring Jersey's Occupation heritage since the early 1970s. Entirely volunteer-run, the Society look after some of the most important German fortification sites around the island. Over decades, volunteers have excavated, restored and maintained bunkers which might otherwise have been lost or remained inaccessible. Sites associated with the CIOS include Batterie Lothringen at Noirmont, Batterie Moltke at Les Landes, Strongpoint Corbière and a number of other fortifications around Jersey.
Jersey War Tours (JWT) is a Jersey-based not-for-profit organisation specialising in the island's Occupation and fortifications. As well as offering private bunker tours in Normandy, Brittany & Jersey, Jersey War Tours works closely with the CIOS to support them in opening and maintaining wartime sites.
These organisations offer something rather different from the well-known commercial museums on Jersey. All of the team members you meet will have actually worked on clearing, researching, restoring and maintaining the bunkers themselves. That local knowledge can transform a visit. Features that initially appear to be little more than holes in concrete suddenly make sense when someone explains the rangefinder that once stood there, where the crew slept, how ammunition reached a gun or why a particular bunker faced in a seemingly unusual direction.
With a collection of genuine Second World War weapons and artefacts that visitors have the opportunity to handle, the experience is unique. They also have a selection of replica weaponry for younger explorers to handle, helping to make the visit memorable for all ages.
Battery Lothringen & Strongpoint Corbiere – The Ideal Place to Start
One of the best introductions to Jersey's fortifications is Battery Lothringen at Noirmont Point in St Brelade. Constructed as a German naval coastal artillery battery, Batterie Lothringen is spread across a spectacular headland overlooking the approaches to St Aubin's Bay. Its centrepiece is the restored multi-storey M132 Command Bunker, from which the battery's guns could be controlled. Visitors can explore the command bunker together with other surviving structures around the headland, including observation positions, gun emplacements and supporting fortifications. The site is particularly useful for understanding that a German "battery" wasn't simply a collection of guns. It was an interconnected military complex requiring command facilities, observation, communications, ammunition storage and accommodation.
Batterie Lothringen has regular Sunday openings and makes an excellent starting point for a Sunday bunker tour.
Strongpoint Corbière is on the south west of Jersey and contains another remarkable concentration of German fortifications. At Strongpoint Corbière, visitors can explore an unusual interconnected bunker complex including an M19 automatic fortress mortar position and a six-loopholed machine-gun bunker. The two positions are connected by a underground tunnel, making this one of the more special bunker experiences on the island. The surrounding landscape also helps visitors understand how German defensive positions worked together. Corbière was not defended by a single bunker but by a network of mutually supporting positions covering the coastline and approaches.
Seasonal Sunday open days allow visitors to see inside fortifications that are normally inaccessible.
A Suggested Sunday Bunker Exploring Day
A good bunker-exploring Sunday can begin at Batterie Lothringen at Noirmont Point. Allow plenty of time rather than treating it as a quick museum stop. Explore the command bunker and then walk around the surrounding battery positions to understand how the entire complex fitted together. Afterwards, continue west towards Corbière. When Strongpoint Corbière is open, it makes an excellent second stop and provides a very different experience from the large naval battery at Noirmont. Depending on seasonal openings, serious bunker enthusiasts can also incorporate Batterie Moltke at Les Landes or other special CIOS open days into their itinerary. Click the map for directions between the three sites.
What to Bring & Respect the Sites
Bunker exploring is very different from visiting a conventional museum. Wear sensible footwear with good grip. Even restored bunkers can contain steep steps, uneven floors and damp surfaces. A small torch is useful, even at sites with installed lighting. Bring a waterproof jacket. Many of Jersey's most interesting fortifications are on exposed coastal headlands where the weather can change quickly. Most importantly, allow yourself plenty of time. The best bunker visits are rarely the ones where you rush from one location to another. Visitors should remember that not every bunker is publicly accessible. Some are on private property, some are locked and others can be dangerous.
Never force entry into a closed bunker or enter an unfamiliar underground structure simply because the door happens to be open, its a fast way to get locked in!
Jersey's fortifications are historic structures rather than abandoned playgrounds. Many have survived because generations of volunteers have spent thousands of hours clearing, restoring and maintaining them. Visitors should avoid climbing on fragile structures, removing objects or disturbing original features. It is also important to remember the human history behind the concrete. These fortifications were constructed during an occupation that lasted almost five years. Their construction involved large numbers of foreign workers, including forced and slave labourers brought to the Channel Islands by the Organisation Todt. A bunker therefore tells several stories: German military engineering, the experience of the occupying troops, the lives of Jersey's civilian population and the experiences of the workers who constructed the fortifications, lest we forget.
Explore Jersey with the Jersey War Tours Interactive Map
If you want to explore Jersey's fortifications independently, one of the best resources is the Jersey War Tours Interactive Google Map, which plots bunkers, batteries, strongpoints and other surviving Second World War sites across the island. The map can be accessed through the photo link below and is particularly useful when planning a day of bunker exploring.
Although German fortifications can be found all around Jersey, visitors are encouraged to concentrate primarily on the south and west coasts, where there is a much greater concentration of interesting and accessible sites. St Aubin's Bay, Noirmont, Corbière and St Ouen's Bay in particular contain some of the island's most impressive surviving defensive positions and make it possible to see several very different types of fortification in a relatively small area. There are certainly a few wartime remains on the north and east coasts, but these areas generally offer far fewer substantial sites for the casual visitor. Use our interactive map to plan a route through the south and west instead, combining the larger bunker complexes with smaller positions along the way. It makes for a much more rewarding day and allows you to see how Jersey's German defences were concentrated around the areas considered most strategically important during the Occupation.
A Note on Safety
Exploring Jersey's bunkers can be fascinating, but visitors should remember that many are 80-year-old military structures that were never designed as tourist attractions. Bunkers may contain steep drops, uneven or slippery floors, rusting metalwork, low ceilings, deep shafts, standing water and other hidden hazards. Coastal bunkers can also be affected by tides, cliffs and changing weather conditions. Entry to any bunker is entirely at your own risk, and you should never force entry to a locked structure or cross private land without permission. Always carry a torch, wear suitable footwear, supervise children closely and, wherever possible, visit officially opened sites or explore with an experienced guide.
Check Before You Travel
Bunker opening programmes can change according to the season, volunteer availability and special events. Before planning your day, check the latest information from the Channel Islands Occupation Society, Jersey War Tours using our whats on page. During the main season there are often several opportunities to visit fortifications mid week, but Sunday remains the day to build your bunker itinerary around all year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Jersey's Bunkers
What is the best day to visit Jersey's bunkers?
Sunday is generally the best day to explore Jersey's Second World War bunkers, particularly during the main visitor season. This is when a number of historic fortifications are traditionally opened by local organisations and volunteers, including Jersey War Tours and the Channel Islands Occupation Society (CIOS). If visiting Jersey specifically to see its German fortifications, we recommend including at least one Sunday in your stay.
Can you go inside the bunkers in Jersey?
Yes. A number of Jersey's German bunkers are regularly opened to visitors, particularly on Sundays and during special open days. However, many other bunkers are normally locked, situated on private property or are unrestored. Never force entry into a bunker or assume that an open entrance means a structure is safe or publicly accessible.
Where are the best bunkers to visit in Jersey?
For most visitors, the south and west coasts of Jersey are the best areas for exploring Second World War fortifications. Battery Lothringen at Noirmont Point, Strongpoint Corbière, St Ouen's Bay and the surrounding coastline contain some of the island's most impressive surviving German defences.
Can I explore Jersey's bunkers without a guide?
Yes. Many fortifications can be viewed from public footpaths and coastal areas, and the Jersey War Tours interactive bunker map is a useful way of finding and identifying Second World War sites around the island. For independent exploration, concentrate on Jersey's south and west coasts, where it is possible to see a large number of fortifications without spending your day travelling between widely separated sites.
Is there a map of Jersey's Second World War bunkers?
Yes. Jersey War Tours provides an interactive Google Map of Jersey's Second World War bunkers and fortifications. It can be used on a phone while exploring the island and shows the locations of bunkers, batteries, strongpoints and other surviving structures. It is particularly useful for planning a route along the south and west coasts.
What are the best German bunker sites to visit in Jersey?
Batterie Lothringen at Noirmont Point is an excellent place to begin and includes one of Jersey's most impressive restored German command bunkers. Strongpoint Corbière offers a very different type of defensive complex, while Batterie Moltke at Les Landes demonstrates the enormous scale of the German coastal artillery defences. Opening arrangements vary, so check before visiting.
Are Jersey's bunkers safe to explore?
Restored bunkers opened to the public are generally the best option for visitors, but unrestored and unattended fortifications can present serious hazards. These can include steep drops, slippery surfaces, rusting metal, standing water, low ceilings and unprotected shafts. Coastal sites may also be affected by cliffs, tides and changing weather. Entry to unattended or unrestored bunkers is at your own risk. Always carry a torch, wear suitable footwear and supervise children closely.
Do I need a guided tour to understand Jersey's bunkers?
You can explore many sites independently, but a guided bunker tour can provide considerably more context. Many individual structures are difficult to understand without knowing how they related to neighbouring bunkers, artillery positions and the surrounding landscape. Jersey War Tours specialises in guided exploration of Jersey's German fortifications and Occupation history, including sites that visitors might otherwise overlook.
How long should I allow for exploring Jersey's bunkers?
If bunkers are a major reason for your visit, allow at least one full day, preferably a Sunday. Enthusiasts could easily spend several days exploring Jersey's fortifications. Because the island is compact, it is possible to combine several important sites on the south and west coasts into a single day's itinerary.
What should I take when exploring bunkers in Jersey?
Wear sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for Jersey's changeable coastal weather. A torch is strongly recommended, even when visiting restored sites, as bunker interiors can be dark and floors may be uneven. A charged mobile phone is also useful for following the interactive bunker map while travelling between sites.
What's the best way to plan a Jersey bunker trip?
Start by making sure your visit includes a Sunday, then check which bunkers are scheduled to be open. Use the Jersey War Tours interactive bunker map to identify other fortifications nearby and concentrate your exploration around Noirmont, Corbière and Jersey's south and west coasts. This combination of open bunkers, independent exploration and, if possible, a guided tour provides one of the best ways to experience Jersey's remarkable Second World War landscape.
