Description
Feet in the sand and eyes on the horizon for this magnificent hike in this exceptional site of Cape Carteret, facing the Channel Islands. Dunes, dunes where you could easily get lost in your daydreams...
Notable points on the circuit:
0- At the old station, the little Carteret tourist train begins its journey, it goes to Port-Bail 10 kilometers away on the “Côte des Isles” with comments during the journey. The train dates from 1930.
1- The port of Carteret with its wet basin built in 1995 welcomes boaters and fishermen, but especially shellfish, including the famous Carteret lobster. From 1881, the connection with Jersey was established. Today, high-speed catamarans have replaced steamers.
2- The old 18th century manor house of Carteret. is famous for having served as a vacation spot for Jules Barbey d'Aurévilly, who located part of the action of his novel “Une Vieille Maîtresse” there (private property).
3– The beaches: view of Barneville beach which stretches on the other side of the harbor and where families collect periwinkles, shrimps or curry combs. Potinière beach is sheltered by the cliff below the path. It recalls the rise of sea bathing in Carteret in 1900.
4- The customs trail, created in 1791, allowed the profession to monitor the coastline. Used for 150 years, it gradually fell into disuse. Today, it is the GR223 which circles the Channel in 223 km.
5 – The cape and the lighthouse. Opposite, the island of Jersey and the islets of Ecrehou, to the north the dunes and to the south the sandy coast intersected by the 8 havens of Cotentin which extends over 100 km to the cliffs of Granville.
6- The Old Church in ruins (listed site) is dedicated to St-Germain-le-Scot, who evangelized Cotentin in the XNUMXth century. It is a vestige of the ancient village covered by sand. On the wild and immense beach, we practice sand yachting and speed-sailing.
7 – The perched dunes (that is to say leaning on a fossil cliff) are a high place of Lower Normandy natural heritage. The landscape, biological, historical and cultural heritage is very rich and protected over approximately 800 ha.
Notable points nearby:
The Saint-Germain d'Auxerre church in Barneville is one of the most interesting Romanesque churches (around 1140) in Cotentin. The church tower is part of the series of church towers fortified in the years 1405 to 1412 following English incursions into Cotentin.
The Graffard manor: visible from the D903. The current manor replaces an old fortified house occupied by the English during the Hundred Years' War. It was built in 1574-1575. It is a remarkable example of Renaissance construction (private property).
The old town of Barneville: behind the church, the remains of an old feudal mound, a fortification of earth and wood. The high fortified tower of the church was raised in the 15th century, during the Hundred Years' War to monitor the coast and the harbor of Carteret at a time when invaders mainly came from the sea.
The village of Rivières: near the harbour, it exudes a lot of charm. The road winds, lined with stone walls, flower gardens and often modest houses.
The village of Tôt, whose only street of flowered houses follows the course of the “Gerfleur”. There remain the remains of an old mill and a washhouse, recently restored, where “Mère Denis” came to practice her trade as a washerwoman.
Le Valnotte: hamlet built in a narrow and steep valley, where the vegetation is luxuriant. Continuing through the Toulorge hamlet, you reach a place set up for a picnic with a panorama of the beaches.
Notable points on the circuit:
0- At the old station, the little Carteret tourist train begins its journey, it goes to Port-Bail 10 kilometers away on the “Côte des Isles” with comments during the journey. The train dates from 1930.
1- The port of Carteret with its wet basin built in 1995 welcomes boaters and fishermen, but especially shellfish, including the famous Carteret lobster. From 1881, the connection with Jersey was established. Today, high-speed catamarans have replaced steamers.
2- The old 18th century manor house of Carteret. is famous for having served as a vacation spot for Jules Barbey d'Aurévilly, who located part of the action of his novel “Une Vieille Maîtresse” there (private property).
3– The beaches: view of Barneville beach which stretches on the other side of the harbor and where families collect periwinkles, shrimps or curry combs. Potinière beach is sheltered by the cliff below the path. It recalls the rise of sea bathing in Carteret in 1900.
4- The customs trail, created in 1791, allowed the profession to monitor the coastline. Used for 150 years, it gradually fell into disuse. Today, it is the GR223 which circles the Channel in 223 km.
5 – The cape and the lighthouse. Opposite, the island of Jersey and the islets of Ecrehou, to the north the dunes and to the south the sandy coast intersected by the 8 havens of Cotentin which extends over 100 km to the cliffs of Granville.
6- The Old Church in ruins (listed site) is dedicated to St-Germain-le-Scot, who evangelized Cotentin in the XNUMXth century. It is a vestige of the ancient village covered by sand. On the wild and immense beach, we practice sand yachting and speed-sailing.
7 – The perched dunes (that is to say leaning on a fossil cliff) are a high place of Lower Normandy natural heritage. The landscape, biological, historical and cultural heritage is very rich and protected over approximately 800 ha.
Notable points nearby:
The Saint-Germain d'Auxerre church in Barneville is one of the most interesting Romanesque churches (around 1140) in Cotentin. The church tower is part of the series of church towers fortified in the years 1405 to 1412 following English incursions into Cotentin.
The Graffard manor: visible from the D903. The current manor replaces an old fortified house occupied by the English during the Hundred Years' War. It was built in 1574-1575. It is a remarkable example of Renaissance construction (private property).
The old town of Barneville: behind the church, the remains of an old feudal mound, a fortification of earth and wood. The high fortified tower of the church was raised in the 15th century, during the Hundred Years' War to monitor the coast and the harbor of Carteret at a time when invaders mainly came from the sea.
The village of Rivières: near the harbour, it exudes a lot of charm. The road winds, lined with stone walls, flower gardens and often modest houses.
The village of Tôt, whose only street of flowered houses follows the course of the “Gerfleur”. There remain the remains of an old mill and a washhouse, recently restored, where “Mère Denis” came to practice her trade as a washerwoman.
Le Valnotte: hamlet built in a narrow and steep valley, where the vegetation is luxuriant. Continuing through the Toulorge hamlet, you reach a place set up for a picnic with a panorama of the beaches.