La Coupole, also known as the Coupole d'Helfaut-Wizernes, is a massive Second World War bunker complex located in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France. Originally codenamed Bauvorhaben 21 or Schotterwerk Nordwest, this concrete structure was designed by Nazi Germany as a launch facility for V-2 rockets targeting London and other Allied cities. The complex is situated approximately 5 kilometres from Saint-Omer and 14.4 kilometres south-southeast of the English Channel coast, making it a strategically important site during the war.
The bunker features a distinctive concrete dome structure, from which it derives its name 'La Coupole' (The Dome). This massive construction project was part of Germany's secret weapons program, intended to create a network of launch sites for their advanced ballistic missiles. The site's location in northern France was chosen for its proximity to the English coast, allowing for shorter flight times to targets in Britain.
Today, La Coupole serves as a museum and historical memorial, offering visitors insight into the technological and human aspects of the Second World War. The site includes exhibitions on the V-2 rocket program, the occupation of France, and the broader context of the war in northern Europe. As a preserved example of Nazi military engineering and a reminder of the region's wartime history, La Coupole stands as both an architectural monument and an educational facility dedicated to peace and remembrance.