A massive site in the scrubland of Wissant’s sand dune system, Wn116 Barmen consisted of over 70 structures including barracks, personnel shelters, ammunition storage bunkers, garages, an observation post, and four open emplacements for French 15.5cm guns – First World War guns captured during the fall of France in 1940.
In fact, the site was so extensive it’s believed to have featured its own narrow gauge railway to move materials around.
Wn116 Barmen, along with its near neighbours, Wn118 Krefeld, Wn117 Ludenscheid, and Stp115 Wuppertal, are located in the high sand dune system to the north of the town of Wissant.
Access to all four of the sites is now strongly discouraged in order to protect the delicate sand dune ecosystems and natural sea defences that have been created – if you’re visiting then please show respect.
The entire Barmen site stands on private property and is not accessible to the public, plus is largely overgrown and there’s little left to see above the vegetation.