Step into the Past with a Unique Mixed Reality Tour in Cherbourg
Experience one of Europe’s most iconic maritime heritage sites like never before. In 2025, Cherbourg invites you to discover its historic Art Deco Transatlantic Terminal through a groundbreaking mixed reality experience.
Using a high-tech headset, visitors step into the bustling train hall of April 14th, 1937 – the day the legendary Queen Mary ocean liner made her very first quayside stopover in Cherbourg, Normandy.
This magnificent terminal, listed in France’s supplementary inventory of historical monuments, is brought to life before your eyes. Surrounded by faithfully recreated transatlantic trains, travelers and porters, you’ll experience the atmosphere of a bygone era as passengers prepare to cross the Atlantic to America.
Meet the People Who Made History
During your 35-minute visit, encounter lifelike characters from 1937: the visionary architect and designer of the terminal, a lively luggage porter, talented jazz musicians, a Cunard Line employee, and excited passengers bound for the New World.
An Unforgettable Mixed Reality Experience in Normandy
On arrival, put on a state-of-the-art mixed reality headset. Through its built-in camera, you’ll see the spectacular Great Hall of Cherbourg’s terminal as it stands today – enhanced with dynamic digital overlays that reconstruct its 1930s glory in real time.
Step into the Grand Entrance Hall and admire the Art Deco architecture of what was, in 1933, the largest building in France after the Palace of Versailles – praised by the press as “the most beautiful transatlantic terminal in the world.”
Good to know
Duration: 35 minutes
Recommended for visitors aged 8 and above
Available in French
Explore More: The History Behind the Experience
Want to learn more about this extraordinary site? The Cherbourg Transatlantic Terminal reveals its fascinating story in an engaging web series subtitled in English.
From the first transatlantic crossings between Cherbourg and America, to the near-demolition and spectacular rescue of the terminal in 1989, explore its construction, inauguration, golden age, decades of silence, and ultimate rebirth.
Hours and rates
- Experience only: €11
- Adult, with visit to La Cité de la Mer: €30
- Children aged 5 to 17, with visit to La Cité de la Mer: €24
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 !
