Most people coming off the boat at Cherbourg are so busy putting their foot on the accelerator to get to their destination further south as quickly as possible that they never see the beauty of La Manche! There is so much to see that we could dedicate a website to this subject alone. We list some great things to do and see in La Manche:
| Cité de la Mer | Cherbourg | Open all year round, great for kids and adults, useful when it rains | www.citedelamer.com |
| Le Mont St Michel | near Avranches | This is magical all year around, no matter what time of day. They are due to start taking away the causeway and replacing it with a shuttle towards the end of 2005. The work will take some years. Great for kids, not great for the lame. There is a new community of monks and nuns living at Le Mont St Michel - going to vespers there is like going to heaven. Ask at the tourist office at the entrance to LMSM for the correct times of the services. | www.mont-saint-michel.net |
| Walks across the Bay of Le Mont St Michel | Genets | One of the most existing things to do - but never on your own as they say the tide coming in faster than a galloping horse, and there are dangerous quicksands. | Chemins de la Baie, 34 rue de l'Ortillon, 50430 Genets
Tel 02 33 89 80 88
Email: cheminsdelabaie@wanadoo.fr
www.cheminsdelabaie.com |
| The Bell Foundry | Villedieu-les-Poêles | One of two really enjoyable museums in Villedieu. The kids will enjoy this one - lots of noise! Great for a rainy day. The other museum worth visiting is the Museum of Norman Furniture. Villedieu is also one of the prettiest towns in the area and is known as the pots and pans town - you'll see why where you get there. | www.cornille-havard.com |
| The Christian Dior Museum | Granville | The Christian Dior House, Museum and Gardens are open to the public from 15th May - 25th September | www.ville-granville.fr/culture/Museechristiandior.html |
| German fortifications | Longues-sur-Mer | An important part of the Altantic Wall, Open until 25 September every day from 10.00 - 18.00. For military enthusiasts this will be a really enjoyable outing - sorry everyone else! | http://www.normandie44lamemoire.
com/fichesvilles/longues.html |
| Rambles | Gavray | There are lots of organised walks - visit the Syndicat d'Initiative in Gavray for full detals. | tourisme.gavray@wanadoo.fr
Sign up at the Syndicat d'Initiative in Gavray.The Syndicat d'Initiative is behind the Mairie in Gavray. They speak English. |
| Le Marais | Carentan - La Haye du Puits and much more | One of the best kept secrets. Officialkly known as Parc Régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin. There are activities for all the family on foot, in boats, horse drawn caravans etc. For those interested in wildlife this is a real find, | www.parc-cotentin-bessin.fr/ |
| WW2 Museum | Avranches | For military enthusiasts and for the rest of us to learn what it was like to live in Normandy in such terrifying times. Museum open 1st April - 11th November. | Tel: 02 33 68 35 83
Email: muséesecondeguerremondiale@wanadoo.fr
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| Lime Works | Régneville-sur-Mer | One of the most unusual sites to visit - you can see and learn how they prepared the lime in former times. The church is also interesting, as is the coastline - a former important port. | |
| Sailing and Watersports | La Manche | | www.manchenautisme.com |
| Tourism | La Manche | The general tourist site for La Manche | www.manchetourisme.com
Email: manchetourisme@cg50.fr
Freephone from France: 0800 06 50 50
Freephone from the UK: 0800 02 86 572 |
| Rambling | La Manche | Hiking and other outdoor activities | www.mancherandonnee.com |
