La Manche is the southernmost department of Normandy. Close to Brittany, La Manche offers a rich mix of landscapes, architecture, and gastronomy… Today, Lez Eaux shares with you the selection of their favourite villages and towns in southern Normandy.
Cotentin and the Islands coast
Cotentin is the edge of the world but how good it is to feel so far away from everything!
Barfleur and Saint Vaast la Hougue
Barfleur got the national reward « Most beautiful French villages » and Saint Vaast la Hougue was elected most beautiful village by French people in 2019. These two fishing villages are very charming and offers a breath of fresh air and serenity.
Nowadays, Saint Vaast La Hougue, is still a fishing port but also a marina. Two Vauban towers break the sea horizon: one on the port, the other on Tatihou island.
Walking to Tatihou island is possible at high or low tide. The path is surrounded by fishing traps and mussel crops. The fun part is to cross with the amphibious boat: driving at low tide and floating at high tide!
Barfleur is the very North-East Cotentin headland. It is a charming traditional fishing village. There is a fish market every morning on the port, where you can also enjoy the restaurants terraces while watching at the boats leaving and coming… Barfleur mussels are famous because it is wild mussels fished by boat.
You can walk along the seaside from the port to Gatteville lighthouse. It is the second higher lighthouse in France. There are 365 steps to reach the top where the viewpoint is wonderful!
Native de Cherbourg, Romane nous raconte Saint Vaast La Hougue et Barfleur :
“J’en ai le souvenir de communes paisibles, un peu comme un havre de paix : idéales pour une balade en famille, en fin de journée (et même le dimanche) 😉
J’ai des souvenirs multiples promenades en famille autour du port : bateaux colorés, village fleuri, pêche, couchers de soleil (ou tempête avec beaucoup de houle …), de quoi satisfaire et émerveiller à la fois les adultes et les enfants.”
Cherbourg “the edge of the world”
On the port in Cherbourg, we dream seeing sailboats, ferries, fishing boats arriving and departing to England, Ireland, and the whole world. It’s very pleasant to have a walk on la Grande rade, which is the greatest harbour in Europe with 7 forts and 6km of dikes.
The atmosphere is cool and relaxing in the city centre. Do not miss the theatre, market, the store “Les parapluies de Cherbourg” and La Cité de la mer. This old marine warehouse sheds the submarine “Le Redoutable » and an aquarium, a great visit!
Portbail
Travelling from Cotentin to Bay of Mont Saint Michel, you’ll drive along kilometres of beaches and dunes. This is the Islands coast.
Portbail is a small port surrounded by salt marshes. During the day, the landscape changes, the salt marshes empty and then fill with water. Here, all the family will enjoy the local way of life: beach, fishing on foot, sailing, tranquillity… The port faces Jersey island.
In the town centre remains historical monuments, among them 2 churches of the XIth and XIIth centuries and the 13 arches bridges leading to the beach.
In the lands, the green Normandy
Saint Sauveur le Vicomte, medieval city
Saint Sauveur le Vicomte is a former middle-age town situated in the Natural Park “Cotentin and Bessin marshes”. Do not miss to visit the castle and the Benedictine abbey. It is a good starting point for green and sports holidays: cycling, kayaking, hiking… and to go to landing beaches, Saint Mère Eglise is only 20 minutes driving.
Coutances
10 minutes from the sea, Coutances appears many kilometres before thanks to its Cathedrale which culminates at the top of the hill. Despite a part of the city was destroyed by the bombings during WW2, we can see that the city has been a rich trade centre in La Renaissance. All in white stone, streets are elegant, and the botanic garden is magnificent.
Bay of Mont Saint Michel
You never ger tired of it: the greatest tides of Europe, typical villages mix of Brittany and Normandy, a unique ecosystem and of course the majestic Mont saint Michel !
Le Mont Saint Michel
After the dredging works, Mont Saint Michel has meet with its original elegance and authenticity. The paved streets, half-timbered house and the abbey are so impressive that the whole world come to see it.
Le Mont Saint Michel, c’est le coup de cœur (après une longue réflexion) de Cécile, la gérante du camping:
“Il est unique et chaque fois que l’on y va, on découvre toujours quelque chose de nouveau. On peut découvrir le Mont saint Michel: sa ville commerçante (un peu trop attrape touriste et un peu trop peuplé par moment), son charme est caché derrière les échoppes qui vendent du Made In china.
S’imaginer comment c’était il y a quelques siècles, est assez facile, il y a des traces du passé partout. Découvrir que l’homme est super ingénieux, persévérant, et que le Mont Saint Michel, as eut beaucoup de facettes avant d’être celui que l’on connait aujourd’hui.
Lorsque l’on est sur le parvis de l’abbaye, voir toute la baie du Mont: Wahouu !!! Se perdre dans les ruelles ou dans l’Abbaye. Avoir une visite guidée de l’Abbaye avec un guide passionné, on en ressort un peu perdue. Et aussi on découvre les légendes liées au Mont : Saint Michel qui terrassent le dragon…
Je n’ai pas fait encore, mais allez dans des endroits peu accessible au proche de l’Archange Saint Michel (la statue dorée tout en haut).
Et la découverte de la traversée de la baie : découvrir les sables mouvant, la faune et la flore, Tombelaine. Les marées les plus impressionnantes sont dans la Baie du Mont Saint Michel !
Le Mont Saint Michel, est un endroit magique si on ne s’arrête pas à la tour Eiffel vendue dans le rue principale. Mais Saint Jean Le Thomas et les falaises de Champeaux… c’est tentant aussi !”
Granville, old corsair town
Granville was built in the XVth century. After it was invaded by English army, the town was fortified and became a strategic place of defence in the bay of Mont Saint Michel.
Granville quickly became a main fishing port. Nowadays, it is still the first port of shells fishing: whelks, clams, scallops… Then in the XIXth century, it became one of the first seaside resorts in Normandy.
The old part of the city was built on a rock over the sea. It is a very nice place to visit and il offers a wonderful view over the beach, the sea, the islands…
Granville is Le Marité sailboat’s home port, it’s a collector rigging that you can admire and visit also during Rouen Armada.
The seafront is the most popular place from the morning to the night, it’s called Le plat Gousset. At the end of this walk, stairs lead to Christian Dior’s childhood home, which is today a beautiful garden and museum.
Emmanuelle vous parle de Granville :
“Je ne me lasse pas de Granville car c’est une jolie station balnéaire qui est dynamique.
Il y a de nombreuses balades à pied à faire : les ports, la vieille ville, le plat Gousset et les bunkers du Roc qui nous rappellent le poids de l’Histoire.
J’aime aussi le dynamisme de Granville avec le Carnaval, les festivals : Les sorties de bain, Les voiles de travail, Toute la Mer sur un plateau et aussi toutes les activités nautiques possibles.
Pour moi les incontournables à Granville sont :
– Une promenade dans le jardin de la villa de Christian DIOR
– Le coucher de soleil au bout du roc avec vu sur les iles Chausey
– Une sortie en bateau à bord de la Granvillaise en baie du Mont Saint Michel (naviguez avec des passionnés (association))”
Traditional villages of Mont saint Michel’s bay : Saint Jean le Thomas and Genêts
Saint Jean le Thomas and Genêts are two small peaceful villages offering a unique view over the Mont Saint Michel and the sea. Surrounded by the sea and salted marshes, people live according to the tide’s rhythm.
We hope you will enjoy all these visits, our favourite place in southern Normandy.
