Destination Magazine # 2 ETERNAL ATTRACTION BEYONd THE sEA sOMEWHERE wAITINg fOR mE SPRING OF THE HEROES CULTURAL HERITAGE LA mANCHE wITh yOUR loVEd ONE OR fAMILY Fort de La Hougue manche-tourism.com La Manche magazine D7 GAV RAY C9 GENÊTS C10 PONTORSON C8 SAINT-Jean-le-THOMAS 02 33 89 64 00 02 33 60 20 65 02 33 70 90 71 C6 Gouville-sur-Mer tourisme.genets@msm- tourisme.pontorson@msm- tourisme.saintjeanlethomas@ normandie.fr normandie.fr msm-normandie.fr C6 HAUTEville-sur-Mer F8 SOURDEVAL C9 MONT-SAINT-MiCHEL 02 33 79 35 61 02 33 60 14 30 tourisme.sourdeval@msm- tourisme.lemontsaintmichel@ E9 S AINT-Hilaire-Du-HarCOUËT VillEDIEU INTERCOM TOURIST normandie.fr msm-normandie.fr 02 33 79 38 88 Office tourisme.sthilaireduharcouet@ ot-villedieu.fr msm-normandie.fr [email protected] 02 33 61 05 69 F9 MORTain-BoCAGE All the phone numbers are indicated for calls from France. 02 33 59 19 74 D10 SAINT-JAMES From abroad, dial 0033 instead of tourisme.mortainbocage@msm- 02 33 89 62 38 the first digit indicated. normandie.fr tourisme.saintjames@msm- E7 Open all the year round Example: to reach 02 33 05 98 70, normandie.fr dial 0033 2 33 05 98 70 GRANVillE LAND & SEA TOURIST Office tourisme-granville-terre-mer.com [email protected] 02 33 91 30 03 CHERBOURG-EN- COTENTIN T OURIST INFORMATION Offices ETERNAL ATTRACTION 4 open all THE YEAR ROUND Diélette -------------------------------- BEYONd THE sEA sOMEWHERE wAITINg fOR mE... 10 C7 BRÉHal SPRINGTIME OF HEROES 16 C8 CAROLLEs WHEN yOU sET Off along THE roaD 22 C7 Donville LEs BAINS Saint-Côme-du-Mont cultural heritaGE 28 C7 GRanville LA mANCHE with your family 34 C8 JULLouville LA mANCHE with your loved one 35 C8 SAINT-Pair-sur-Mer THERE’s lots Of sEASONS! 36 MONT SAINT-MICHEL - LA MANCHE, a feast for the eyes! 40 NORMANDY TOURIST Office ot-montsaintmichel.com SOUVENIRs made in La Manche 44 EVENTS 2018, experience La Manche! 46 T OURIST INFORMATION Offices open all THE YEAR ROUND LA mANCHE in short 48 -------------------------------- D9 AANVR CHES practical information 49 02 33 58 00 22 tourisme.avranches@msm- List of Tourist Offices 50 normandie.fr MAP of La Manche 51 E8 BRÉCEY 02 33 89 21 13 tourisme.valdesee@msm- normandie.fr D7 DUCEY-les-CHÉRIS 02 33 60 21 53 tourisme.ducey@msm- -03 normandie.fr Submersible road - Havre de la Vanlée Cover photo: Port Racine - Saint-Germain-des-Vaux 51 Mont Saint-Michel Bay La Manche magazine ETERNAL ATTRACTION Mont Saint-Michel Abbey and the bay represent much more than a religious and tourism landmark. The alchemy between the architectural masterpiece and the majestic beauty of the surrounding nature explain its universal, unique and eternal prestige. It has been illuminating the area for over 1000 years and carries the attraction of La Manche far beyond our borders. orchestrated by the combined influence of ASKING FOR the sun and the moon. The phenomenon of the gravitation of the planets sets up a THE MOON reciprocal attraction between the celestial bodies. This gives rise to a deformation of the Earth. A kind of breathing process that swells and then contracts the surface. The long "breathing in", then the long "breathing he bay is one of the most beautiful out" causes the sea to continually go back sights in the world, giving visitors the and forth. Sometimes, when the planets are chance to admire the spectacle of aligned, the terrestrial deformation goes so Tthe rising and falling tides. It is a revelation far that people can enjoy the popular event for anyone seeing it for the first time. The of the "high tides of Mont Saint-Michel Bay". landscape lying before you is constantly The amplitude may reach up to 15 metres in changing. Every six hours, the water covers or height. The sea then seems to come back as uncovers the vast golden stretch surrounding fast as a galloping horse. Because the water, the Wonder. If you are not in a hurry, take coming from all directions, joins together the time to watch this impressive to-and- in a kind of natural funnel that multiplies its fro, this strange and magical movement strength. Mont Saint-Michel footbridge 5 La Manche magazine Crossing Mont Saint-Michel Bay THE "MIQUELOTS" PILGRIM TRAIL ow fresh and invigorating these serene stature. Its famous silhouette grows seven kilometres of strand are! If bigger as you draw closer, so your physical you decide to set out from Vains, the effort will not be disappointed. Of course, the Hguide will take you to Tombelaine. You begin a stop will be a short one, since you'll need to long walk, much longer than it seems, towards set off long before the tide covers the pitch this impressive rock, which is now a refuge for sand. You'll even find this blended aroma of hundreds of migratory birds from Siberia, sand, clay, shellfish and water in your hair at Greenland and elsewhere. After going the end of the trip. You'll return covered in it, round it, you will set off towards Mont Saint- tired, but definitely amazed by the power of Michel. You'll need to make an effort, but my the site. Of the thousands of annual visitors, goodness the reward is superb! Seen from the some 800 people ask to stay in the sanctuary sand, in the midst of wild and untamed nature, or to have their official pilgrimage booklet, the Archangel's Mount deploys its solid and the "Carnet du Miquelot", stamped. 6 La Manche magazine Mont Saint-Michel 7 La Manche magazine The restored cloister of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey WINDOWS ON THE HEAVENS The guest room Detail of the cloister here is so much to see in and around and one gold and silver reflections from Mont Saint-Michel that many people the bay, which, like the abbey, is listed as a come back again and again. This year, UNESCO World Heritage site. The works Tthe renovated cloister is a good reason for have also led to a greater understanding making the trip up again. A chance to revisit of the highly complex system for collecting a Gothic edifice dating from the 13 th century rainwater - water that is blessed and used that is internationally unique, standing 80 to wash the monks’ feet. The gallery floors metres high. The small columns supporting have been lowered 17 to 25 cm, and are now the delicate, sculpted vaults have been similar to the level prior to the 19 th century. cleaned and the landscape garden has So, the stones around the gallery can once been redesigned, helping to make the site again be used as seating, like an invitation to even more peaceful and magical. From contemplation, meditation and suspended the vast window, you will see the thousand time. 8 La Manche magazine heavens at the service of God, and depicted as THE BAY a winged knight overcoming the devil, watches over the famous sanctuary and the salvation of OF LEGENDS souls, the candidates for heaven… t Mont Saint-Michel, there are many legends. No matter how credible they may be, the main point is that these So, are you ready extraordinaryA stories inspire our imagination… for the trip? According to a 15th century manuscript, the forest of Scissy was covered by flood waters. A particularly violent equinox tide had overwhelmed the centuries-old trees… A Find out all about the bay, the crossings wolf befriended the monks and brought them and tides on the website the provisions they needed to survive… And manche-tourism.com one night in October 708 A.D. the archangel (Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel section) Saint-Michael visited the site, ordering Bishop Aubert to build an oratory at the summit of Visit Mont Saint-Michel Mont Tombe. Having doubts about the reality accueilmontsaintmichel.com of the apparition, the holy man decided not to abb aye-mont-saint-michel.fr carry out the task the archangel had give him. o t-montsaintmichel.com Three times, the angel returned. Still in doubt, Aubert asked for a proof of the apparition. The archangel placed his finger on Aubert's See the manuscripts forehead. When he woke up, the bishop had a from Mont Saint-Michel to Avranches scriptorial.fr hollow line imprinted in his head. Since then, the Archangel Saint Michael, the master of the The Mont Saint-Michel manuscripts, heritage library, Avranches 9 BEYOND THE SEA SOMEWHERE WAITING FOR ME... The cry of seagulls, the sound of boats, the sailing ships setting out to sea, the spluttering of colourful tractors, gusts of wind and the waves lapping all follow the orders of the same "conductor". Here, the sea is in charge! Its continuous ballet sets the tone for local people and tourists, opening the gates to another way of life. The life of a coastland in perpetual movement, 355 kilometres long and beautifully varied. Nez de Jobourg La Manche magazine DUNES AND HAVENS, HAVENS AND DUNES here is something here for everyone. flora, or make your way through the havens On the coast of La Manche, we know of Regnéville-sur-Mer and La Vanlée, a fount how to welcome and surprise visitors. of inspiration for photographers and painters. TThe region's large dune beaches are ideal Right at the top of Val de Saire, Réville offers for lovers of fine sand, while the Normandy a breathtaking view over the island of Tatihou, peninsula is also well worth a visit. It is full of and skies with captivating light.