Cherbourg-Octeville appeared on the map of France only in 2000. Before that, there were two different cities, of which the first became famous all over the world thanks to umbrellas, and the second remained virtually unknown. The city is located on the Cotentin peninsula, on the banks of the English Channel, and it's not a romantically sleepy harbor with snow-white yachts, but the most serious cargo, passenger, commercial and military port (the second largest in the country). It is all docked with fortified forts, warehouses, factory buildings, dykes and a long breakwaters.

How to get to Cherbourg-Octeville

About 10 km from the city there is an international airport that accepts charters: it's most convenient to fly here from the port Coy in Caen. In addition, ferries from Great Britain and Ireland go to Cherbourg. On the direct highway from Kan to the city to go about 1, 5 hours by bus. And the most optimal way for time, money and labor to get to Cherbourg is to start from the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris by train TGV (the journey time is approximately 3 hours).

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A little history

The history of the local places begins from the 10th century and from the Vikings-seafarers . Due to the location of the peninsula directly opposite the British Isles, the English have repeatedly encroached on these lands . Later shipbuilding yards appeared in Cherbourg, and ships began to go overseas . Residents Cherbourg is inclined to thank for the development of the city of Emperor Napoleon I, on whose instruction the development of the local port began to invest considerable funds . For a while z Here were also built submarines . During the Second World War, the Germans occupied the city, but after its liberation in 1944 . here life began to boil, and the port of Cherbourg continued to develop as the largest trade and transport hub of the country .

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Cherbourg-Octevil

The church buildings are especially impressive basilica of the Holy Trinity, which was built in the first half of the 5th century, then destroyed by the Normans in mid-9th century, after which neodnok It was rebuilt and restored . The church received the last significant damage during the Second World War, but was again restored . Today it is a very wide basilica (28 m wide at 46 m length) with three naves and four large lateral edges . @ The belfry was added to it in the first half of the 19th century, and its height exceeds 20 m . In the interior of the church you can see valuable old paintings of the 17th century .Another interesting church is St. Martin, built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century . It can be found on the street General de Gaulle .

One of the best examples of Italian architecture in the city is the building of the Italian Theater of 1882 g . buildings on the General de Gaulle square . The interior decoration of the theater was done by designers who proved themselves to work on the interiors of the Opera Garnier in Paris . The inhabitants of the city called this building a "golden theater" for the beautiful color of the stone from which it was built . In the hall it is possible see the allegorical sculptures of Coma Dia, Drama, Music and Dance . The square in front of the theater - the most popular meeting place in Cherbourg - adorns the fountain of Mushel with sculptures of four seasons and marine animals .

The present historical monument is the abbey du Vie, founded in 1145 . and devoted to the Virgin Mary . Once there was a beautiful church with stained-glass windows and mosaics, built by order of the granddaughter of Wilhelm the Conqueror, Queen Matilda, but now, alas, the monastery is in a dilapidated state . Also tourists can be curious to see Fort Ruhl built under the rule of Napoleon III in the 19th century to protect the harbor . During the fascist occupation here in the fortress cave "type, German guns were placed . Today there is a liberation museum in the fortress, where a lot of evidence from the Second World War, documents and photos . is kept. The fort also has an observation deck from which you can take excellent pictures of the harbor .

One of the main cultural centers of the city is the museum of T. Henry. It was founded in 1831, and the collection was based on a collection of more than 160 works by Henry donated to the museum. Today in the museum you can see about three hundred works of French, Italian and Danish craftsmen from the Middle Ages to our days. Among the most significant masterpieces are paintings by Murillo, Filippino Lippi, Beato Angelico and an impressive collection of paintings by Millet

No less interesting sight of Cherbourg is a very special kind - the Cité de la Mer, the "city of the sea", a tourist center that was built in 1928 . Here are located several deep marine aquariums and the largest nuclear submarine in the world, open for public visits . Its length is 128 m and the diameter is more than 10 m . In addition, the complex has a unique gallery of equipment that was used for diving, and other machinery and mechanisms . В 201 2 g . the complex was expanded, and there was also an exposition dedicated to the Titanic that made its first stop after leaving Southampton port in Cherbourg .

In Cherbourg there is a beautiful botanical garden founded by the eminent scientist and politician Emmanuelle Lei, a travel fan . Here you can admire the century-old trees, landscape ponds with water lilies and greenhouses with tropical flora - including plants with The Far East and from South America . Also in the park you can see a collection of wonders that the founder brought from around the world . Other green islets of Cherbourg is a city park on top of the Rühl mountain with a mini zoo and the charming pastel garden of Montebello on the same street where camellias are planted and the magnolia .

Surroundings of Cherbourg

In the vicinity of Cherbourg there is also something to see . For example, the ancient charming Ravale Castle in Tourlaville, rebuilt in the 16th century, during the reign of Henry Navarra . The castle is located in about five km to the drain from the city does not at all look like an impregnable stronghold - rather, a rather elegant rural mansion in the Renaissance style . It is distinguished by towers of various shapes (octagonal and round), as well as a large beautiful staircase and four huge ceremonial halls . The legend links the castle with the story of the sinful love of the two children of his first master who fled together from the paternal house, but were seized and beheaded .

Another interesting place 20 km west of the city is the botanical garden of Vovil. The garden was founded in 1948, and today there are almost 1,000 species of subtropical plants, including Canary and New Zealand. The garden occupies the grounds of the estate of Vauville directly on the Atlantic coast. This is private property, and access to the garden for the general public is not always allowed.

In addition to the botanical garden in Vovil, an ornithological center operates, and the beaches in the local harbor are stretched for as long as 10 km - wide, sandy and sparsely populated. The town is excellent for a day trip with a picnic and lazy rest

30 km from Cherbourg, on the westernmost tip of Cotanthen, there is the Port of Racine - a very nice town and, according to one version, the smallest port of the country . And if you travel a little farther west, you will find yourself in the bay of Ekalgren, at Cape Jobur . This is the most extreme tip of Cotanthen and at the same time is the oldest: the local geological formations refer back to the Cambrian period . Beregovaya the line at the cape is extremely picturesque: here over the water the cliffs hang over a hundred meters high, underneath are rolling beaches with golden sand, and in the rocks over the century, wild caves were hollowed out by the water .

And 40 km to the south of the city, near Pikivilya, there is a beautiful castle Il-Mari, built in the 17th century . This small building with two round symmetrical towers, which looks extremely romantic, and therefore the hotel, which is located in it, enjoys constant popularity . Having traveled about 10 km from Il Mari to the west, you can admire other interesting for mcom - Crowville-sur-Duve . This château of the 15th and 17th centuries with its adjoining farm looks quite different: businesslike, functional and squat; but also here is opened a hotel with a restaurant .