4 days, 3 nights From £ 281/ person Hotel adapted for school groups Visits and animations in English
Cotentin and England, a common history
The Cotentin peninsula is separated from England by a narrow sound we call « the English Channel » or « La Manche », depending on which side of the coast you stand. As a natural consequence, this closeness between our two shores resulted in the Cotentin shifting nations, being sometimes French, sometimes English. Part of England’s history was thus written in the Cotentin. Discover this close link throughout different periods of time. We start our trip in Barfleur, a small harbour town where the « Mora » was built in the traditional Viking style, reminding us of Duke William of Normandy. Then we will head towards Cherbourg and more specifically to the heart of the original Transatlantic Liner Terminal, where the Titanic stopped before her last journey. Finally, we will pretend we are GI’s landing on the Normandy coasts on D-Day 1944. For each visit mentioned in this program, please note every location can provide educational workshops for school groups in English.
Day 1 : Wartime May 29th 1692 : battle of la Hougue
The English defeated the French armada in Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue on May 29th 1692. The next day, the French naval masterpiece called « Le Soleil Royal » ran aground in Cherbourg and was not able to resist the enemy cannon balls. After this massive defeat, King Louis XIV wanted to stop the English from landing in Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue. He summoned Sébastien Vauban to build two defensive towers (nowadays registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List) : one in Saint- Vaast-La-Hougue, the other one on the Isle of Tatihou. It is this precise island located one mile from the coast we invite you to discover with a guide. Back to Barfleur
Walk the old streets of Barfleur and discover the tragic story witch changed the course of medieval England. November 25th 1120 was a sad day for English history. The ship « La Blanche Nef » struck a rock called « Quilleboeuf » and soon capsized, drowning the heir William Adelein and his brother Richard as well as their court. Left with no male heir, King Henry I (Little son of the Duck William of Normandy) named his daughter Matilda as his heiress. However, after his death, the barons supported his cousin Etienne de Blois. Their allegiance led to a civil war that lasted 19 years.
Day 2 : Links between Cherbourg and England
April 10th 1912 : welcome on board the Titanic
The Titanic, giant of the seas, left Southampton on April 10th 1912 for a journey towards her last stop in a European harbour: Cherbourg, before crossing the Atlantic. You can learn more about her history, her passengers and her tragic fate in the ferry terminal where she stopped more than a century ago. This is now La Cité de la Mer, a place dedicated to the exploration of the ocean depths. You can also experience life on board Le Redoutable, the only nuclear-powered submarine open to visitors in France.
Discover Cherbourg from the sea
Relations between England and Normandy inevitably have shaped the town of Cherbourg throughout the centuries, hence the fortifications along the harbour. Defending Cherbourg against potential attack of the powerful English naval fleet quickly became a necessity. Building this defensive roadstead took over 4 centuries. Take a cruise in sheltered waters along the Cherbourg seafront onboard the Adèle and navigate in the second largest artificial harbour in the world, inaugurated in Queen Victoria’s presence on August 1858 !
Day 3 : D-Day prepared from England
June 6th 1944 : English landing on Normandy beaches
Throughout the Second World War, England played a major role in the Allied Victory by refusing to capitulate to the Nazis, in allowing the French Resistance to expand on its soil and in preparation for Operation Overlord. It was from England that General Eisenhower motivated his troops on June 5th 1944, the day before the Normandy landings! In Sainte-Mère-Église, the Airborne museum lets you experience this huge military operation alongside the American paratroopers with spectacular and realistic displays.
DEAD MAN'S CORNER : LOCATED AT THE HEART OF HISTORY
On June 8, as the Germans withdrew to Carentan the American Colonel “Iron Mike” Michaelis established the headquarters of his unit, the 502nd PIR of the 101st Airborne. Day 4 – 100 years war 12th of July 1346 : The Earl of Saint Sauveur lands in Saint Vaast
Saint Sauveur le Vicomte Castle is one of the most important buildings of the Hundred Year’s War and the English occupation in Normandy. This dimension is underlined by the identity of the baron who held it in his possession in the 14th century, who in all likelihood ordered its rebuilding.
Become a damsel or a knight
The medieval cuisine differs from the modern diet. You can experience the social hierarchy of the time through cuisine. Wealth and status influenced the diet. Nutritional and varied meals were provided to the elite and less nutritious meals for the poor. Dress you up like damsel and knight to relive life in the Middle Ages.
Entrust your project to the Cotentin Tourist Office
The commercial service of the Cotentin Tourist Office provides you its knowledge of the field and helps you to implement your trip project. Our team remains at your entire disposal for any further information. Do not hesitate to contact us, we will be pleased to adapt the program to all your needs. We hope to see you soon in the Cotentin peninsula!
Commercial service [email protected] - +0033 2 33 78 11 81 Certificat Atout France n°IM050180001
Photos : M. Lerouge, B. Almodovar, Musée Airborne,, cité de la mer, Office de Tourisme du Cotentin, Hague à part, Ludiver, conseil départemental, Musée de Cherbourg, Manoir du Tourp.