Holidays in Manche, Normandy, France

Manche is a department in Normandy named after the French world for the English Channel – La Manche, meaning "the sleeve". The region is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and the World Heritage Site, Mont St Michel. Walking routes cross the region, allowing visitors to explore the coast and inland, where you can also find historic towns and villages; though many parts of Manche were destroyed during the D-Day landings in the Second World War.



Mont St Michel



The World Heritage Site is a tidal island located about a mile offshore the Manche coast. The island is accessed by a causeway at low tide or by boat. The French government plans to construct a lightweight bridge in the future, which pedestrians and cyclists can use to get across the water. Mont St Michel has been important throughout Norman history as a fortress and a religious site, and you can still walk the ramparts today as well as visiting the many churches and chapels as you wind your way up the steep main street to the top of the rocky outcrop. The abbey is the star architectural attraction, built between the 11th and 16th centuries and today features many examples of religious art.



Beaches and D-Day



The beaches in this part of France are long and wide, with plenty of sand dunes for children to explore. As well as being beautiful places to take a walk, enjoy a picnic or a day in the sun, some of the beaches in this part of Normandy have enormous historical significance, as this was where the Allied troops landed on D-Day during the Second World War. There are numerous museums and monuments in the area dedicated to the forces that fought here. There are also plenty of pretty fishing villages that have embraced the tourist industry in the region, such as Granville, known as the Monaco of the North not for its casinos, but for the old town perched on the cliffs above the still working harbour.



Hiking routes



The Manche region has an impressive 4,500 km of marked paths for hikers or cyclist, either following the coast or venturing further inland. One of the most interesting follows a disused railway line from north to south, ending near Mont St Michel. Many of the paths are also suitable for horse riding and all are well sign-posted. The local tourist office has produced leaflets detailing these hiking paths, as well as circular cycling routes using quiet country roads. You can rent bicycles in most of the larger towns in Manche such as Cherbourg and Saint Lo.







The Author writes for Holiday Home Rentals who have a selection of Gites in Manche and Villas in France which can be rented direct from their owners.