A unique nature

The Cotentin coastline extends over kilometers of wild coastline, offering breathtaking panoramic views. The steep cliffs, The beaches golden sand, secluded coves and unique rock formations are all elements that make this region famous. Watching the sun rise and set on a beach, walking along the coastal path of GR®223, or relax on one of our unspoilt beaches for an unforgettable natural experience.

A heritage rich in biodiversity: observe a variety of animal species, notably migratory birds, curious seals, marine animals whose presence one would not suspect in Cotentin.

Be amazed by the diversity and richness of the native plants that flourish here: the Cotentin, characterized by its temperate climate and varied soils, offers a suitable habitat for many plant species, some unique to this region.

These two terms are the key words of SYMEL (Syndicat Mixte Littoraux de la Manche) and the Coastal Conservatory. The role of the Littoral Conservatory is to protect the most remarkable areas of the coast. It protects more than 4 hectares of vegetation. SYMEL's mission is to manage protected coastal sites. A team ensures the maintenance and monitoring of natural spaces accessible to a wide public.

Between the capes of Carteret and that of Roselle, the powerful dune massif ofHatainville rises more than 80 meters covering ancient cliffs more than 70 years old. From the sea to the summit of the massif, the vegetation grows in layers and forms a mosaic according to the tides, sea spray, winds and fresh water inflows. Many rare species adorn the dunes in colors that vary throughout the seasons.

Vast meadows crisscrossed with ditches where horses and cattle graze, crossed by the Douve, Taute and Sève rivers which flow into the immense estuary of the Bay of Veys. Traditional bocage on the heights and polders near the sea: you are in the land of Marais from Cotentin.

In winter, the sky and the water merge, the marshes become covered with water. It is said that they “whiten” and the expression Cotentin peninsula then takes on its full meaning, it is the white marsh.

The landscapes drawn by the winds and waves range from dunes to cliffs and from moors to pebble beaches. The rock of certain cliffs is as beautiful and precious as the landscapes it offers. The end of the world is like this.

Large sandy beaches, like those at the historic site ofUtah Beach to the small coves of Val de Saire, the Cotentin offers unique landscapes. The Blue Flag label of certain beaches guarantees the high environmental quality of the Cotentin.

Heaths are made up of characteristic shrubs such as gorse, broom or heather and only grow on poor soil. They once had an interest in feeding livestock. Less interesting from an economic point of view, they have long been neglected. Many species have adapted to the harsh living conditions of the moors and developed here.

Penetrating further into the countryside, we cross the “bocage”, a region where rolling fields and meadows are enclosed by earth levees. On these mounds, shrub hedges were planted; they mark the limits of plots of unequal sizes and different shapes. The habitat there is generally dispersed into farms and hamlets.

For a vacation in natural, you will explore this coastline punctuated with cliffs, capes, small ports and even of beaches fine sand, but also punctuated, in the heart of the bocage, with valleys and marshes. Lovers of fauna and flora, you will discover many unique species in the Cotentin nature reserves: orchids, carnivorous plants, in the Hatainville dunes, the highest perched dunes in Europe, Domaine de Beauguillot, Mare de Vauville, or even in the Marshes.