15 km from Utah Beach campsite, you can discover a one-of-a-kind place in Normandy: the Cotentin Marshes. Hop in your car or on your bike and head out for a full immersion in nature!
The Cotentin Marshes
Normandy is known for the cliffs of Étretat, its beaches, and Mont Saint-Michel, but did you know that the region is home to a gigantic regional nature park? Spanning 148,000 hectares, vast protected marshlands shelter abundant wildlife and plant life, including the famous white stork.
Here, marshes and hedgerows share the space along the coastline, which you can visit using eco-transport (electric boats). Exploration trails wind through the marshes, allowing you to get closer to this remarkable area while respecting local biodiversity. But you can go even further to learn the history of the regional nature park, discover the different species and varieties living in the marshes, and explore this area on educational trails: head to the Regional Nature Park House!
The Regional Nature Park House
As part of a nature park, the Cotentin marshes are classified as a sensitive area. It is therefore not possible to roam freely. To do so, you need to go through the Regional Nature Park House: in Carentan-les-Marais, this site lets you access two areas spread over 100 hectares: the Ponts d’Ouve Sensitive Natural Area and the Tadpole Garden. Several activities are available:
– A route around the Sensitive Natural Area: a 5.5 km loop along the edge of the marshes, open in summer and autumn.
To round out your visit, a permanent exhibition “Living in the park in 2050” looks at how the Cotentin marshes adapt and change as the climate warms.
Practical information
The Park House is open to visitors every week from Tuesday to Sunday.