Friday, 22 March 2019

Raversyde - Atlantic Wall Museum

The Raversyde - Atlantic Wall Museum is situated 5km (3 miles) south west of Ostend.

Raversyde Museum Ostend



The museum preserves fortifications from both World Wars, built by the Germans during their occupations of Belgium. 

The museum consists of over 60 bunkers and two miles of tunnel which were built on land belonging to Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, who wished to keep the fortifications intact as a national monument. He lived in a cottage on the land until his death in 1983.
 

Raversyde
Prince Charles of Flanders Cottage
Raversyde
Battery Saltzweddel  abd Neu Aachen Battery
 
Aachen Battery

 The Battery Aachen was built in 1915 to defend the port of Ostend and was one of a series of German coastal batteries on the Flanders Coast. 

Raversyde
View of Aachen Battery towards Ostend
 
Battery Saltzweddel Neu 
 
The Battery Saltzweddel Neu was inaugurated in September 1941 as part of the defence of the German occupied port of Ostend. In 1942 it was incorporated into the Atlantic Wall, a coastal defence system that stretched from Norway to Spain. Anti-aircraft guns were added to engage Allied bombers crossing the Flanders Coast when travelling to and from bombing raids.

Raversyde
View of  Battery Saltzweddel Neu