GR®223 - Cap Lévi - Cherbourg-en-Cotentin

For 19 km, you’ll walk along tracks, with views of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in the distance, your destination for this stage. Just a few hundred metres from the fort, walk past the pretty Cap Lévi harbour, protected by the bay of the same name. For a long time, the Romans used this harbour as a place of transit to England. It now shelters small fishing and sailing boats.

Carry on along the coast towards Anse du Brick. This fine sandy beach, at the foot of the cliffs, is a top spot for surfing and other watersports. Leaving the l’Anse de Brick behind you, take the footbridge over the D116 and head up the road to the viewpoint.

The path gradually heads away from the coast to climb up for some fantastic views of the harbour in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the biggest artificial harbour in the world. (An alternative route is possible if you want to continue along the coast. Take the pedestrian right-of-way, marked by a yellow circle). In the hamlet Douet Picot, turn right to continue on the main GR route or take the GR®223A, a variant that crosses the southern part of the town, known as the “Balcons de Cherbourg”.

You’ll get back to the coast at Port du Becquet. Nestled between two rocky outcrops, the port was built in 1783. It was the main place of embarkation for shipping stones from the nearby quarries to be used in the construction of the great jetty in Cherbourg harbour.

Finally, walk along Collignon beach, the maritime boulevard and the port area, before arriving at the former transatlantic liner terminal, which now houses the Cité de la Mer, the destination of this stage. Take the opportunity to explore the town of Cherbourg and its best spots.