La Coupole is a massive Second World War bunker complex located in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, approximately 5 kilometres from Saint-Omer. Originally codenamed Bauvorhaben 21 or Schotterwerk Nordwest, this concrete structure was built by Nazi Germany between 1943 and 1944 as part of their V-2 rocket program. The facility was designed to launch V-2 rockets against southern England and London, representing one of the most ambitious military construction projects of the war.
The bunker features a distinctive concrete dome structure, from which it derives its name 'La Coupole' (The Dome). This massive underground facility includes extensive tunnels, storage areas, and launch preparation chambers. The complex was intended to be a semi-mobile launch site that could quickly prepare and fire V-2 rockets, though it was never fully operational due to Allied bombing campaigns and the advancing front lines.
Today, La Coupole serves as a museum and historical site, offering visitors insight into the technological and human aspects of the V-2 program and the broader context of the Second World War in northern France. The site stands as a testament to the engineering capabilities of the era and the strategic importance of the Pas-de-Calais region during the conflict.