Construction under the Consulate 1801-1806 (≈ 1804)
Edited by order of Napoleon Bonaparte.
1861
Modernization of the fort
Modernization of the fort 1861 (≈ 1861)
Adaptation to modern artillery, addition of buildings.
1875
Military decommissioning
Military decommissioning 1875 (≈ 1875)
Becoming obsolete in front of the striped guns.
1905
Buy by Dumas-Vence
Buy by Dumas-Vence 1905 (≈ 1905)
Transformed into an exotic secondary residence.
1944
Allied bombardments
Allied bombardments 1944 (≈ 1944)
Major damage during World War II.
1990
Acquisition by the Coastal Conservatory
Acquisition by the Coastal Conservatory 1990 (≈ 1990)
Open to the public and departmental management.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Napoléon Bonaparte - Emperor of the French
Commander of the fort in 1801.
Charles-Henri Dumas-Vence - Captain and collector
Owner from 1905 to 1939, built the fort.
Félix Amiot - Industry
Restore the fort in residence (1953).
Origin and history
Cap Lévi fort is a military structure built under the Consulate between 1801 and 1806, on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte to protect the Cherbourg harbour and the local cabotage from British attacks. Located on the north coast of Cotentin, it was part of a network of 11 batteries designed to defend maritime approaches. Its strategic location, 19.50 metres above the high seas, controlled access to the Lévi port and sheltered the ships with its artillery.
In 1861, the fort was modernized to adapt to artillery progress, with the addition of four open-air parts and the expansion of its logistical capabilities. However, by 1866 it became obsolete due to the appearance of the striped guns, and was declassified in 1875. Sold to private individuals in 1881, it was transformed into a secondary residence by Charles-Henri Dumas-Vence in 1905, which built there a garden, a Moorish pavilion and a collection of exotic objects reported from his travels.
Requisitioned during the two world wars, the fort suffered extensive damage in 1944 during the Allied bombings. Rached in 1953 by Félix Amiot, a Cherbourg industrialist, it is restored as a prestigious residence with a reception room in the old powder box and a hold in the rocks. Since 1990, it has been owned by the Conservatoire du littoral and is managed by the Department of La Manche, now offering guest rooms and access to remarkable natural trails such as that of customs officers.
Originally, the fort had a 35-metre-diameter semicircular battery, equipped with two 24-pound guns, protected by a 7-metre-thick earth parapet. A powder shop, a guardhouse for 15 men and a guardhouse were complete. In 1861, a 41-metre strong front was added, including a kitchen, a food store and a new guard for 20 men, while the firing platform was raised to accommodate three front rooms and one side.
Today, integrated with the natural site of Pointe du Brick, Cap Lévi fort allows you to discover a preserved Napoleonic military architecture, while offering a breathtaking view of the Cherbourg harbour and the surrounding coastal landscapes, such as the Coves du Brick and Tocqueboeuf or the Moulins valley, accessible via the customs trail.
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Future
The Fort du Cap Lévi is today a place for visiting and staying in a guest room.
