Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Atlantic Hotel in Cherbourg-Octeville was built in the 1st quarter of the 20th century to meet the needs of the transatlantic companies Cunard, White Star and Red Star. These three companies, united in 1921 under the Société anonyme de l'Hôtel Atlantique, wanted to offer a model place to welcome emigrants going to the United States, while respecting the strict sanitary standards of the time. The architect R. Levasseur designed the plans for an architectural ensemble organised around a central courtyard, including a restaurant and separate quarters for infected and disinfected passengers.

The building, completed in 1922, is distinguished by its rigorous organization and interior decoration, including stencil paintings adorning the walls. The central pavilion, classified as a Historical Monument by order of 19 October 2001, illustrates the historical importance of the site, linked to the golden age of transatlantic migration. Private property today, the hotel bears witness to architectural ingenuity and health issues of the early twentieth century, in a strategic port like Cherbourg.

The location of the Atlantic Hotel, at the corner of Dom-Pedro and Tourville streets, reflects its integration into the urban fabric of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, then expanding thanks to maritime traffic. GPS coordinates and archives (Mérimée base) confirm its anchoring in the port area, where travellers, doctors and company agents crossed. The building, although partially preserved, remains a symbol of the international exchanges and logistical challenges of the inter-war period.

External links