MANCHE,
HISTORY TO BE DISCOVERED Six countries linked by the bonds of the ground in
a single and various set at the same time: you are in Manche.
It has an identity that is strong, rich and complex,and to
describe it occupies the whole rays of library. To know it
takes centuries but you will like it in a second, for eternity.
Welcome...
CHERBOURG AND PENINSULA OF COTENTIN
Cherbourg, open door on the sea of Manche, separates high-Cotentin
between the wild Hague and the laughing Val de Saire. In the
west, the point of Hague and in the east the point of Barfleur
are well-known reference marks of the navigators. Near to
the protected sites of Hague, two important nuclear centers
make contrast in a natural environment of great quality. Cherbourg
and its urban centre represent the major centre of attraction
of the peninsula; port for the trans-Manche, travellers
as well as a naval, trade, fishing port and today marina of
international level, all the history of this city is influenced
by the sea. A number of artists and writers were seized by
the picturesque and authentic side of nature in this area;
famous names like Millet, Barbet' d' Aurevilly, and nearer
to us Jacques Prévert, liked these landscapes. Today,
the realism of the decoration often inspires the scenario
writers. In the center of History, opens towards the south
on the Cassin country and Plain, the country of Sainte-Mère-Eglise
and Sainte-Marie-du-Mont which were celebrated in 1944 by
the liberation . In the west, Bricquebec and Saint Sauveur-le-Vicomte,
native land of Barbet' d' Aurevilly, were since the Middle
Ages powerful fortified towns turned towards the close shores
of the coast of the Anglo-Norman Islands. Along this coastline
follow one another remarkable natural landscapes intersected
with courses in the shelter of which developed accessible
stations like Siouville, Barneville-Mapret and Portbail.
To the south of the peninsula, extends the regional Natural
reserve from the Marshes of Cotentin and Bessin, exceptional
wetland, paradise of the friends of nature; adapted river
navigation facilitates the discovery of it. Lastly, on the
East coast of Cotentin, from the bay of Saint-Vaast Hougue
and the historic site of the island of Tatihou, to the bay
of Veys, extends a long beach of thin sand,and the field of
the operations of the unloading of Utah Beach chosen by our
liberators there is 50 years ago. While coming by the south,
the access into the peninsula is practised by Carentan which
shelters here its port in the city.
SAINTLOIS GROVE
AND COUNTRY OF COUTANCES
Beyond the lowlands of the swamps of Cotentin, one penetrates
in the grove, this territory is limited of wooded hedges and
irrigated by generous rivers. By tradition, the activity of
agriculture still dominates in these famous basins of Elle
and of Vire, like Douve and Toute in the north, or Soulle
and Sienne towards the south. Along these rivers, the breedings
are prosperous, but the cities which were built on their accesses
developed their craft industry and their industry. Formerly
intended for transport,
these rivers became today privileged places of leisures. The
development of the means of communication and rural diversification
modified the behaviors: the rural houses became residences
of holidays and little by little the country of the interior
opened to the tourism of discovery. At the four corners of
this area, a Norman abbey proudly marks the limits of this
territory: the abbey of Lessay in the north, around which
the thousand-year-old fair of Sainte-Croix remains on the
moor, one easily joined Cerisy-laForêt and its beautiful
Roman church comfortably to the verge of wood. More in the
south, the majestic ruins of the abbey of Hambye and the restored
set of the abbey of Lucerne d' Outremer remain models of Norman
architecture. In the center of this perimeter two cities:
Saint-Lo, departmental administrative chief town, carry high,
thanks to its national stud farm, the colors of the breeding
of the horse of Norman sport. And Coutances,an episcopal city,
proud of its cathedral, takes part on its side in the promotion
of the regional cultural image. The sea is very close here.
The long natural extents of beaches of the West coast are
intersected with deep harbours and are bordered of Mielles
whose man cultivates the enriched grounds. Beautiful stations
such as Pirou, Blainville, Agon-Coutainville and Hauteville-sur-Mer
offer their services to the vacationers. Another activity
in this area is the production of the seafood, whose quality
today is unanimously recognized. Here, the tide is an impressive
phenomenon; the flood goes up far in sharp water in the harbours
such that of Sienne. It is by continuing the course of this
river through the grove that will be reached Villedieu-les-Poêles,a
picturesque city known for the activity of copper and the
manufacture of the bells. Proud of its reputation, god City,
with its museums and its close zoological gardens, became,
in the center of the department, a necessary crossing point
for the visitor.
AVRANCHIN AND MORTAINAIS
The landscapes of the south of Manche are definitely distinct
from the remainder of the peninsula. The
solid Norman traditions which characterize the major nature
of this area always were under the influence of the Saint-Michel
Mount. This high-place of the faith, and a point of convergence
of thousand years of history, drained during centuries generations
of visitors. The hikers of today still traverse, along the
rivers of Sée and Sélune, the old paths of the
pilgrims of formerly to which one owes the tradition of opening
of this area. In the mouth of these rivers, between the ground
and the sea, it is the privileged space of nature in bay of
the Saint-Michel Mount. Here the sea is formidable, but the
ground never said its last word. Three strong points delimit
the circumference of thebay: Granville in north, a maritime
point of defense that is strengthened with the Chausey islands
in ahead stations, and however a beautiful distinguished station
which saw the birth of Christian Dior. More in the south,
beyond a set of family stations with golden beaches panoramic
points of view on the bay, Avranches, city of reception loaded
with history, dominates the situation. It is here that Patton
chooses to carry out the famous Breakthrough of the Way of
Liberation in 1944. A third strong point, in the west of the
bay, the point of Cancale, which rises at the horizon beyond
the limits of Normandy. In the opposite of this area of Avranches,
towards the east, one penetrates in Mortainais, in
a universe of hills and rocks. Here at "the end of field",
the granite levels, the sources spout out, and the waterfalls
thunder. In Mortain, Norman stronghold, the granite tells
the history; the sites and monuments crossed the centuries,
the men worked the stone or exploited the ground; museums
and the large residences testify. Today this area lends itself
as much to the culture as to the practice of the leisures:
discovery, excursion, fishings in river and artistic activities
are favourable in calm and rest.
With the approach of the limits of this territory, Saint Hilaire-du-Harcouët,
the city-market of the South-Manche, gives access to an exceptional
space of leisures on the Vezins Lakes. InSaint-James and Huisnes-sur-Mer
one greets the memory of the fighters of the Battle of Normandy.
Undoubtedly, for its traditions of reception, authenticity
and art of living, all this tectonic foreland of the Saint-Michel
Mount is to be recommended highly. Mortainais. Nature in waterfalls
Nature spouts out there in all its forms the granite under
the foot, and the greenery under the glance and water in waterfalls.
It is normal that the salmon wriggle merrily on the side of
Sée and Sélune, and that apple trees and pear
trees open out there before distillation - astonishing alchemy
- which gives rise to the famous Calvados and Poiré.
Coutance
Between the meadows and Estran, the Country of Coutances offers
to the visitor a variety of pleasures and landscapes that
are sometimes difficult to suspect. The countryside, it, remains
more secret with its interlacings of tiny boroughs, survivors
of a rural world of oyster parks, and charming seaside resorts,
soft rivers and timbered small valleys.the eye is never bored
in the country of Coutances.
Recherche
travellers
as well as a naval, trade, fishing port and today marina of
international level, all the history of this city is influenced
by the sea. A number of artists and writers were seized by
the picturesque and authentic side of nature in this area;
famous names like Millet, Barbet' d' Aurevilly, and nearer
to us Jacques Prévert, liked these landscapes. Today,
the realism of the decoration often inspires the scenario
writers. In the center of History, opens towards the south
on the Cassin country and Plain, the country of Sainte-Mère-Eglise
and Sainte-Marie-du-Mont which were celebrated in 1944 by
the liberation . In the west, Bricquebec and Saint Sauveur-le-Vicomte,
native land of Barbet' d' Aurevilly, were since the Middle
Ages powerful fortified towns turned towards the close shores
of the coast of the Anglo-Norman Islands. Along this coastline
follow one another remarkable natural landscapes intersected
with courses in the shelter of which developed accessible
stations like Siouville, Barneville-Mapret and Portbail.
To the south of the peninsula, extends the regional Natural
reserve from the Marshes of Cotentin and Bessin, exceptional
wetland, paradise of the friends of nature; adapted river
navigation facilitates the discovery of it. Lastly, on the
East coast of Cotentin, from the bay of Saint-Vaast Hougue
and the historic site of the island of Tatihou, to the bay
of Veys, extends a long beach of thin sand,and the field of
the operations of the unloading of Utah Beach chosen by our
liberators there is 50 years ago. While coming by the south,
the access into the peninsula is practised by Carentan which
shelters here its port in the city. 
,
these rivers became today privileged places of leisures. The
development of the means of communication and rural diversification
modified the behaviors: the rural houses became residences
of holidays and little by little the country of the interior
opened to the tourism of discovery. At the four corners of
this area, a Norman abbey proudly marks the limits of this
territory: the abbey of Lessay in the north, around which
the thousand-year-old fair of Sainte-Croix remains on the
moor, one easily joined Cerisy-laForêt and its beautiful
Roman church comfortably to the verge of wood. More in the
south, the majestic ruins of the abbey of Hambye and the restored
set of the abbey of Lucerne d' Outremer remain models of Norman
architecture. In the center of this perimeter two cities:
Saint-Lo, departmental administrative chief town, carry high,
thanks to its national stud farm, the colors of the breeding
of the horse of Norman sport. And Coutances,an episcopal city,
proud of its cathedral, takes part on its side in the promotion
of the regional cultural image. The sea is very close here.
The long natural extents of beaches of the West coast are
intersected with deep harbours and are bordered of Mielles
whose man cultivates the enriched grounds. Beautiful stations
such as Pirou, Blainville, Agon-Coutainville and Hauteville-sur-Mer
offer their services to the vacationers. Another activity
in this area is the production of the seafood, whose quality
today is unanimously recognized. Here, the tide is an impressive
phenomenon; the flood goes up far in sharp water in the harbours
such that of Sienne. It is by continuing the course of this
river through the grove that will be reached Villedieu-les-Poêles,a
picturesque city known for the activity of copper and the
manufacture of the bells. Proud of its reputation, god City,
with its museums and its close zoological gardens, became,
in the center of the department, a necessary crossing point
for the visitor. 
The
solid Norman traditions which characterize the major nature
of this area always were under the influence of the Saint-Michel
Mount. This high-place of the faith, and a point of convergence
of thousand years of history, drained during centuries generations
of visitors. The hikers of today still traverse, along the
rivers of Sée and Sélune, the old paths of the
pilgrims of formerly to which one owes the tradition of opening
of this area. In the mouth of these rivers, between the ground
and the sea, it is the privileged space of nature in bay of
the Saint-Michel Mount. Here the sea is formidable, but the
ground never said its last word. Three strong points delimit
the circumference of thebay: Granville in north, a maritime
point of defense that is strengthened with the Chausey islands
in ahead stations, and however a beautiful distinguished station
which saw the birth of Christian Dior. More in the south,
beyond a set of family stations with golden beaches panoramic
points of view on the bay, Avranches, city of reception loaded
with history, dominates the situation. It is here that Patton
chooses to carry out the famous Breakthrough of the Way of
Liberation in 1944. A third strong point, in the west of the
bay, the point of Cancale, which rises at the horizon beyond
the limits of Normandy. In the opposite of this area of Avranches,
towards the east, one penetrates in Mortainais, 
in
a universe of hills and rocks. Here at "the end of field",
the granite levels, the sources spout out, and the waterfalls
thunder. In Mortain, Norman stronghold, the granite tells
the history; the sites and monuments crossed the centuries,
the men worked the stone or exploited the ground; museums
and the large residences testify. Today this area lends itself
as much to the culture as to the practice of the leisures:
discovery, excursion, fishings in river and artistic activities
are favourable in calm and rest. 
