During your stay at the 3-star Utah Beach campsite in Normandy, you’ll have the opportunity to discover the rugged coastline of La Manche and Cotentin. How about exploring one of the largest seaside resorts in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel? Head to Granville, 80 km from the campsite, facing the Chausey Islands archipelago.
Granville, Cod Fishing Port and Corsair City
In the 15th century, Granville was a fishing village. From its port, ships set sail to fish for cod in Newfoundland. Over the years, it transformed into an important cod fishing port, rivaling its Breton neighbor, Saint-Malo. In the 17th century, under the reign of Louis XIV, the port was still bustling with sailors coming and going. Some privateers worked for the monarch.
The Monaco of the North
Like other seaside resorts in Normandy, Granville experienced significant development during the 19th century. The fishing port quickly transformed into a holiday destination. The first stone of the Roc lighthouse was laid in 1827, and a wooden casino opened in 1860. The inauguration of the Paris-Granville railway line in 1870 marked a turning point in the city’s development. From then on, Parisians could easily travel to the Norman seaside resort to swim, stroll along the beaches, and breathe in the sea air away from the capital. Visitors were charmed by its pedestrian streets, fishing port, upper town, covered market, and the Dior House. So much so that they eventually nicknamed it “the Monaco of the North.”
Granville and its Gentle Way of Life
Even today, strolling along the seafront, one can perceive the gentle way of life that built Granville’s reputation. Protected by its ramparts, the Upper Town contains beautiful private mansions and two interesting cultural spaces: the Musée du Vieux Granville and the Richard Anacréon Museum of Modern Art. The commune boasts several other beautiful buildings, such as Saint-Paul Church, Notre-Dame-du-Cap-Lihou Church, the Hôtel des Bains, and Grainville Castle. The Christian Dior House adds a touch of glamour to the resort. The couturier’s former residence is now a museum open to the public.
Le Roc and the Port
It’s impossible to wander through the streets and along the seafront of Granville without walking to the Pointe du Roc, where the Cap Lihou lighthouse stands. Granville can also boast of having France’s leading shellfish port. The resort’s restaurants offer guests freshly caught scallops, clams, cuttlefish, and whelks. The port is unique in that it is equipped with a dry dock, a facility built with granite blocks from Chausey, formerly used for maintaining cod fishing boats.
Chausey, the Pride of Granville
Located 15 km off the coast of Granville, the Chausey Islands archipelago is an invitation to travel back in time, to venture into the English Channel and the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. Several shipping companies organize excursions throughout the year. The crossing takes less than an hour. You can relax on a white sandy beach, swim, and admire the pristine landscapes around you.
Festivities
In February, Granville vibrates to the rhythm of its carnival. For 5 days, the seaside resort transforms into a city of celebrations with parades of floats, balls, concerts, and confetti battles. The commune hosts several other events throughout the year, especially during the warmer months: Traversées sonores (May), Festival Sorties de Bains (July), Open-air Cinema (July), Nuit des Soudeurs (August), Festival Grandes Marées (July-August), Voiles de Travail (August), Toute la Mer sur un plateau (September).
Source: Wikimedia Commons – Author: Pinpin