Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
town developed from fortifications
built by the English in 1439 as
part of their assault on the Mont.
The Musée de Vieux Granville, in
the town gatehouse, recounts
Granville's long-established sea-
faring tradition. The chapel walls
of the Église de Notre-Dame are
lined with tributes from local
fishermen to their patroness,
Notre Dame du Cap Lihou. The
lower town is the resort, with
casino, promenades and public
gardens. From the port, there are
boat trips to the Îles Chausey, a
scattering of low-lying granite
islands.
d
Map B5
•
Tourist office:
4 cours Jonville. 02 33 91 30 03
A Day in Cotentin
Morning
Leave Cherbourg on the
D901 toward St-Pierre-
Église. After 15 km (9
miles), turn onto the D355
to pretty
Le Vast
in the
heart of the lovely
Val de
Saire
. Be sure to buy a
delicious
brioche du Vast
from Olivier Thebault,
12 les Moulins. Follow
the river on the D25 to
Valcanville, then on the
D125 to
La Pernelle
,
climbing the steep granite
hill to the church and,
above, a magnificent
panorama of the coast.
In
St-Vaast-la-Hougue
(see p100)
, book a table
for lunch (don't forget to
try some St-Vaast oysters)
at
France et des Fuchsias
(see p103)
, then stock up
on food and wine at the
family-run emporium
Gosselin
, trading since
1889. If there's time, take
a trip to
Île de Tatihou
,
just offshore
(see p102)
.
Villedieu-les-Poêles
For 800 years, this pretty
little town - in every nook and
cranny of which there are copper
pots and pans for sale - has been
the capital of copper
(see p65)
.
In the Atelier de Cuivre, you can
see the craftsmen at work, while
the atmospheric Fonderie des
Cloches gives a fascinating
insight into the making of bells
(clay, horse dung and goat hair
are some unlikely components).
Another local craft, lacemaking,
is explained at the Musée de la
Poeslerie.
d
Map B5
•
Tourist office: pl
des Costils. 02 33 61 05 69
Afternoon
From St-Vaast, it's a quick
drive along the D14 to
Quineville, then the coastal
D421 to
Utah Beach
to
contemplate the events of
June 1944
(see pp28-31)
.
After a bracing walk along
the beach and dunes, head
inland to
Ste-Mère-Église
(see p100)
and its famous
church
(see p28)
, perhaps
pausing for refreshment at
Café de la Libération in
rue Général-de-Gaulle.
From Ste-Mère-Église, drive
into the watery heart of the
Cotentin marshlands
(see
p97)
, ending the day on
the banks of the Douve at
Les Moitiers-en-Bauptois
at the delightful
Auberge
de l'Ouve
(open Apr-Sep;
02 33 21 16 26), where
local eels are the speciality.
Copper workshop, Villedieu-les-Poêles
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