VAL DE SAIRE AND CHERBOURG

In a nutshell

An excursion along the evocative coast of Normandy with its romanticism, nature and history, exploring picturesque fishing villages and recalling its glorious past.

Main stops

• Val de Saire
• Cotentin peninsula, village of Le Vast and La Pernelle
• Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue and the fortifications of Vauban
• Barfleur
• Cherbourg: Abbey of Notre-Dame du Voeu, Basilica Sainte-Trinité, Place Napoléon, Town Hall 

The programme

• We will leave the port of Cherbourg for the beautiful Val de Saire, which refers not only to the enchanting valley through which the river Saire flows, as its name suggests, but also to the whole northern part of the Cotentin peninsula.
• Travelling the country lanes of the peninsula and passing the picturesque village of Le Vast, famous for its little waterfalls, we will arrive at La Pernelle for the first stage of our half-day excursion. From here we can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the peninsula's eastern coast. On a clear day the view stretches from Barfleur to Grandcamp-Maisy.
• Back on the coach we will travel along the panoramic road to the village of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, a picturesque location on the Val de Saire coast which, as well as being a fishing port, is also a major oyster production centre. Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue is also popular for its seaside resorts and the presence of one of the fortifications of Vauban, rebuilt following the French defeat at the naval battle of La Hougue to protect the 17th century port. Here we enjoy some free time to stroll around the centre and indulge in some shopping.
• We continue our tour in the direction of Barfleur, a small tourist and fishing port listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. In medieval times it was the main port of the Anglo-Norman kingdom and at the time of the Norman conquest it was an inhabitant of Barfleur who built 'La Mora', the ship that carried William the Conqueror to England in 1066. Over the centuries the port of Barfleur has witnessed the comings and goings of kings, dukes and their families travelling back and forth between the various kingdoms.
• Near Barfleur is the famous Gatteville lighthouse, built from 11,000 blocks of granite between 1829 and 1834 located. With a height of 75 metres it is the second tallest lighthouse in France. It features 52 windows recalling the number of weeks in the year, 12 landings for the number of months and 365 steps, one for every day of the year.
• On the return journey we will take the picturesque coastal road towards Cherbourg. Here we pass the city's major places of interest such as the Abbey of Notre-Dame du Voeu, the famous street built by Napoleon, the Basilica Sainte-Trinité, Place Napoléon, the Town Hall.