Discover the most fabulous panoramas in Normandy
Holidaying in la Manche, make sure you travel around to take in the amazing variety of landscapes on show across this most westerly of Norman counties, or départements.
You can’t fail to appreciate the wealth of scenic views around this unspoilt Norman paradise. Our landscapes offer a magnificent combination of gentle and sparkling colours, of the grandiose and the wonderfully preserved. Tour these parts at a gentle pace to enjoy our verdant countryside, backed by the ever-changing hues of the sea, at your leisure.
On foot, by bike or on horseback, make for the high ground to be able to take in to the full the glorious natural settings around La Manche.
The wide landscapes and skies, the rich agricultural lands and the magical sights create an exhilarating atmosphere. The Baie du Mont Saint-Michel, the Côte des Havres (with its protected natural harbours), the Côte des Isles (looking out to islands), the Cotentin Peninsula, the D-Day landing beaches, the Vire Valley and the southern part of La Manche, Sud Manche… all offer up unbeatable Norman views that you won’t easily forget!
Around the staggering Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel
> Avranches
The town’s Jardin des Plantes (botanical garden) on its height provides a stunning view of the estuaries of the Sée and Sélune Rivers, and of the Mont Saint-Michel
> Mont Joie-Saint-Martin
This mount offers a different view of the Mont Saint-Michel
> Pointe de Carolles and Champeaux Cliffs
From these two spots, take in breathtaking panoramas of the Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel
> Vains
Head to the Grouin du Sud headland for further amazing views to the Mont Saint-Michel. At exceptionally high tides, watch the powerful Mascaret, or tidal bore, from here.
> Granville and its coast
From the Pointe du Roc, the views down onto the beaches to north and south are exceptional, as are those to the Chausey Archipelago out to sea
The elegance of the Côte des Havres
> Agon - Coutainville
Enjoy the long sandy beach backed by beach-huts with colourful roofs. The Pointe d’Agon headland is a listed natural sight marked by a startling lighthouse.
> Le Havre de Sienne
This harbour was once the trading port for Regnéville
Nature’s panoramas along the Côte des Isles
> Les Moitiers - d’Allone
The Dunes d’Hatainville are almost a mile wide and reach 80m in height at their highest point.
> Barneville-Carteret
> Cap Carteret
You can see there the Mont de Besneville, Carteret Lighthouse and Biard Rock: with views stretching to the Channel Islands
Up the Cotentin
> Cherbourg, a port linked to the Americas
Cherbourg-Octeville: the Fort du Roule has remarkable views down on the port
L’Anse du Brick: take in much of the vast Rade de Cherbourg, an exceptional natural harbour, from Cap Lévi with its 19th-century Napoleonic fort
> La Hague
Hameau de Laye: from this hamlet, enjoy the the stunning view of Ecalgrain Bay
The Calvaire des Dunes at Biville: perched 125m above the sea, you get an amazing view from this cross dominating the Anse de Vauville
Falaises de Landemer: from these cliffs take in fabulous views of La Hague’s cliffs
Falaises de Vauville and Flamanville Semaphore (Control Tower): from these cliffs, enjoy one of the most beautiful sea views in the whole of La Manche
Gréville Hague: head to Le Castel Vendon Rock for the panorama
Herqueville: enjoy the startling view of the Anse de Vauville and the coast up to the Cap de Flamanville Headland
La Roche à Coucou Les Pieux and Le Rozel Point: for unbeatable views of the Nez de Jobourg and Cap Carteret headlands and out to the Channel Islands
Le Nez de Jobourg: boasting some of the highest cliffs in Europe (126m in height)
The finest landscapes along the Saire Valley
> From Barfleur to La Hougue
Barfleur: behind the church, enjoy views of Gatteville, its lighthouse and the Pointe de Barfleur. Barfleur is in that select association, Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Ile Tatihou: an island just out to sea from Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue. From the island’s tower, take in a staggering view of the Bay of Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue
La Pernelle, 10km from Barfleur: head here for the views to the Pointe de Barfleur, down the Cotentin’s eastern coast and across to the distant Calvados coastline
> Sainte-Mère-Eglise and Utah Beach
Saint-Marcouf-de-l’Isle: from Crisbecq Battery, look down on Utah Beach, of D-Day landings fame, and onto the renowned Tatihou Island
> Baie des Veys
Head for the Beauguillot nature reserve at Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
> The Parc Naturel Régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin
Liesville-sur-douve: for an unbeatable viewing point over the marshes
Le-Plessis-Lastelle: the ruins of the former keep of Le Plessis have been transformed into an observation post over the marshes
Graignes Memorial: at the highest point in the Marais du Cotentin, learn here about the varied ways in which man has used these marshes, regularly flooded in winter.
Doville Mount and Castre Mount
The Vire Valley, in the heart of the bocage with its hedgerows
> Roches de Ham at Brectouville
Enjoy impressive views from these rocks, reaching 105m in height, with a head-spinning drop to the Vire River far below
> Saint-Lô
The ramparts and the Beaux-Regards and La Poudrière Towers offer great views not just of the town, but also of the Vire
Grandiose landscapes in the Sud de la Manche area
> Villedieu-les-Poêles
Town renowned for producing copper utensils
Saint-Vigor-Des-Monts: dominating the patchwork of fields divided by hedgerows in the Bocage Virois area. The viewing table indicates the sights all around
> The Mortenais area between the Mont Saint-Michel and La Suisse Normande
Chaulieu: the highest point in La Manche (at 368m), with great views
Mortain: from the Chapelle Saint-Michel you can see as far as the Mont Saint-Michel
The Mortain Waterfalls
Ducey: the Bois d’Ardennes, woods covering 80 hectares, containing a great variety of wild flora and fauna, including interesting birds, bats and amphibians
