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Come aboard the Le Redoutable submarine
Discover Le Redoutable, France’s first nuclear submarine and flagship of the French Navy! Commissioned in 1971, this 128-meter giant can be visited at La Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg. Immerse yourself in the daily life of her crew thanks to an immersive 35-minute audioguided tour (ages 5 and up).
The tour of Le Redoutable, the world’s largest visitable nuclear submarine, is devoted to the daily life of the submariners, offering visitors a unique auditory experience on board as if the crew had just left the building.
New!
Come and discover “Ocean on Tap”: our new permanent space dedicated to the sounds under the sea!
Come and visit the French nuclear submarine at La Cité de la Mer!
A visit to Le Redoutable at La Cité de la Mer offers a unique immersive experience. Explore the submarine’s interior spaces, including the engine room, command room and crew quarters.
Two 35-minute audio guides for your visit on board:
The first, more technical, is led by the Pacha, otherwise known as the Commander. It is recommended for adults wishing to understand in detail the workings of this mythical submersible.
The second, more educational audio guide is a dialogue between a former submariner and his grandson, nicknamed the “bidou ”*, who is about to follow in his footsteps. The latter is recommended for young people and families, enabling them to share an educational experience together. The tour offers a glimpse into the history and daily life of the crew, while honoring this emblem of naval engineering built in Cherbourg in the 60s.
* Who’s a bidou? It’s simply the nickname of the youngest submariner in the crew!
Le Redoutable, the submarine of technological prowess
Le Redoutable, France’s first nuclear-powered submarine, is a true technological feat. Measuring 128 meters long and 10.6 meters wide, she is designed not to dive to extreme depths, but to be as silent as possible, an essential asset for her mission. Its special steel hull enables it to withstand the harsh conditions of the deep sea. Powered by a pressurized water nuclear reactor, it could navigate underwater for several months at a speed of 25 knots. Beyond her technical capabilities, a visit to Le Redoutable highlights the daily life of submariners, offering a unique insight into life on board this giant of the seas.
Its armament, comprising 16 nuclear ballistic missiles (M1, M2, M20), made it a pillar of France’s nuclear deterrent in 1967. Le Redoutable incorporated cutting-edge acoustic innovations to evade detection. The 135-strong crew carried out missions ranging from surveillance to strategic strikes. This submarine, which marked its era, remains a symbol of French naval engineering and military history.
Meet a submariner at La Cité de la Mer!
For 1h15, discover the extraordinary daily life of the submariners during their 70-day patrol.
An immersive experience aboard the Le Redoutable submarine
A visit to Le Redoutable at La Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg offers an immersive insight into the daily life of submariners aboard France’s first nuclear-powered engine-launching submarine. Since its opening in 2002, this meticulously fitted-out submersible has become an emblematic feature of La Cité de la Mer, attracting visitors curious to explore its passageways. The tour takes in all the compartments of the submarine, from the command station to the sleeping quarters, via the technical areas.
Each stage is accompanied by explanations of how the submarine works and what life is like on board, enriched by captivating anecdotes and testimonials.
To complete the visit, the mediathequedelamer.com website features videos and archives. What’s more, former submariners add a personal dimension to the visit with their authentic accounts, which you can discover at meetings organized by La Cité de la Mer.
Life aboard Le Redoutable was marked by specific living conditions that tested the endurance and cohesion of the crew. Submariners lived in confined spaces. During your visit, you’ll discover the cabins, where space was at a premium, with bunk beds and shared living areas for meals, for example. Each day was punctuated by working hours, but there were also rest periods set aside for submariners to relax or study. Gastronomy on board was very important! The best cooks in the French Navy served aboard Le Redoutable, and it was essential to maintain crew morale during the long patrols at sea. And the excellent cuisine served on board helped to do just that!
Working as a team in such a restricted environment required careful management of interpersonal relations. Tensions could arise, but crew cohesion was essential to overcoming daily challenges. You can see this in one of the episodes of our webseries, entitled “Managing tensions”.
The tour of Le Redoutable not only presents a technological feat, a tool in the service of nuclear deterrence, but also highlights the daily lives of submariners, paying tribute to the men who lived and worked in this confined but fascinating space.
A cultural and symbolic role today
Today, the French nuclear submarine Le Redoutable is more than just a submarine; it has become a symbol of France’s technological power, and of the know-how of the Cherbourg arsenal, where submarines have been built for over 100 years. Its presence not only strengthened France’s strategic position on the international stage in the 60s, but it is also a symbol of national independence. It now occupies an important place in France’s collective memory, and its conversion into a museum at La Cité de la Mer preserves it as part of the country’s maritime heritage. This conversion underlines its role in national identity, over and above its military function.
For more information
Visits to Le Redoutable are only open to children aged 5 and over.
Admission to La Cité de la Mer is free for children under 5, but for safety reasons, Le Redoutable can be visited by children aged 5 and over. Visits can be alternated between two adults.
Due to the configuration of Le Redoutable, this tour is not accessible to wheelchair users.
A special area is dedicated to them.
An audio tour available in 5 languages
The Le Redoutable audio guide is available in French, English, Dutch, German, Italian and Spanish.
Children aged 5 to 12 can visit Le Redoutable with a specially designed audio guide.
They’ll discover the story of Charles, a former submariner, and his grandson Nathan, who’s following in his grandfather’s footsteps! The dialogue between these characters tells them about the daily life of the submariners on board, and also describes in a simple and amusing way the workings of this giant of the seas. This audioguide can also be enjoyed by the whole family, to share the same experience!
Hours and rates
- Open all year round
- Children’s rates: from €15
- Adult rate: from €21
Experience unique moments
The not-to-be-missed highlights promise unique experiences that enliven our venue throughout the year.
LE CONCERT DE LA LIBERTÉ: the electro show at La Cité de la Mer.
On 14 June 2025, Bob Sinclar, Mosimann, Trinix and Chris Willsman will be rocking the Grande Halle at Cherbourg’s Gare Maritime Transatlantique in an unforgettable concert. Buy your ticket now !
