The beauty of the marshes
Gateway to Cotentin, Carentan is a town in the heart of the marshes, in the Bay of Veys.
The town of Carentan-les-Marais is surprising. Obviously known for its strategic position in June 1944 during the Normandy landings, it offers much more than a stopover for remembrance. Its rich architecture, its history, its beautiful streets, its marina, its dynamism too rarely highlighted make it a charming place, ideal for curious minds.
Arcades
On the main square of Carentan, the arcades, a set of medieval Gothic architecture dating from the 14th century, represent a rarity in Normandy. The exceptional condition of the building is quite astonishing and immerses the walker in a real “set” of a swashbuckling film.
The wash house
Operational in 1786, the magnificent washhouse made of Caen stone welcomed washerwomen until the mid-2th century, a period during which running water became accessible to residents. He won 1989nd prize for French wash houses in the Rempart competition in XNUMX.
The Notre-Dame church
The church, listed as a Historic Monument since 1862, is impressive for the height of its 60-meter bell tower, which can be spotted from afar. Heavily damaged during the Hundred Years' War, the building nevertheless retains a few spare vestiges dating from the XNUMXth century. The south facade, richly sculpted, bears four musical angels and Saint-Michel slaying the devil. Inside, the organ, from the beginning of the XNUMXth century, is also classified as a Historic Monument. The stained glass windows are equally remarkable.
The marina
Intense commercial activity, wars, total abandonment... life port of Carentan was not easy. From 1806 to 1810, Napoleon I decided to drain the marshes and had deserters and prisoners dig the “Grand Canal”, today's Haut-Dick canal.
With a capacity of 350 places including 50 for visitors, the Carentan-les-Marais marina, rehabilitated in 1982, was a commercial port from the 1944th century until XNUMX.
Nowadays, it is regularly full.
To reach it, sailboats travel through a canal, seven kilometers long.
The Dreknor
A Viking warship built not far from Cherbourg-en-Cotentin by a troop of enthusiasts, the Dreknor, a replica of the Gokstad (the largest found in Norway) is docked at its home port.
The shipowner's house
Dating from the Second Empire, the residence, located rue Sivard de Beaulieu, has a remarkable Napoleon III style facade, decorated with an engraving of a boat with mixed propulsion, recalling the ships present in the port of Carentan in 1875. Adjoining the house, a sublime palm grove is visible from rue Lepelletier. Not far from there, another surprising portal attests to the rich history of the city.
Not trivial!
Sea trips departing from Carentan are not ordinary. They start in the heart of the city, cross the RN 13 on the aqueduct and follow a long winding watercourse in the middle of the marshes before reaching the coast.
AT THE HEART OF WORLD DESTINY / JUNE 6, 1944
In June 1944, Carentan, the only passage in the heart of the flooded marshes and the Baie des Veys, must be liberated as quickly as possible to ensure the junction of troops between the beaches of Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. The paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, dropped just north of Carentan, will face their first major battle on French lands, ending in a violent bayonet charge recounted in the famous “Band of Brothers” series.
It was on June 12, after 6 days of hard fighting, that the American soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division, led by General Taylor managed to liberate the city.
Every year, Carentan-les-Marais celebrates the anniversary of its battle and the Landing with dignity. The streets and stores are dressed in the colors of this part of history which has so marked the Normandy coast. Liberation balls and reenactments are organized in the city and its surroundings with extras or enthusiasts dressed in period outfits.
Today, Carentan still preserves vestiges and monuments linked to the events of the Second World War and the roles of the American airborne forces.
