France West Coast - Calais to Avranches

In 1692, Louis XIV wanted to put his cousin back on the English throne. He organised a landing on the other side of the Channel. A battle took place off Barfleur and was won by the French but a second assault had the French retreating to Brest, Le Havre, Cherbourg and here at St Vaast. Most of the ships were burned and sunk. To stop a repeat of such a defeat these forts here and at Cherbourg were built.