Cherbourg > Carentan
[ Cycle routes Tour de Manche ]- 79.1 km
Leaving Cherbourg, you travel through an ever-changing landscape of hedged fields, dunes and moorland, and Portbail with its beautiful golden beach. The Cotentin Regional National Park and Bessin Marshes are magical places to cycle - do stop to sample the local cheeses, ciders, seafood and Calvados apple brandy.
The 6 stages of the section « Cherbourg > Carentan »
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Cherbourg / Brix
[15.8 km]
A short section of the route then takes you from the biggest artificial harbour in the world (dating from 1783) to another highly significant historical location - one associated with the Normandy Brix family, whose most illustrious descendent is Robert the Bruce. Visit the Castle ruins; and, if you are passing through in October, take a tour of the traditional St. Denis market.
Difficulty: Family view the detail -
Brix / Bricquebec
Leaving behind the pleasant town of Brix, the going is easy along quiet lanes past farms and villages: watch out for the high banks separating the fields, meadows and orchards - so typical of this part of lower Normandy. Soon Bricquebec is in view: a chance to stop for refreshments close to the ancient castle.
Difficulty: Family view the detail -
Bricquebec / St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte
Dating back to the Vikings, Bricquebec’s history is matched by its monuments: the Abbey Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and the ruined castle are well worth visiting before setting off to St Sauveur le Vicomte – which itself has its own 10th century Abbey, and a museum dedicated to locally-born writer Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly.
Difficulty: Family view the detail -
St-Sauveur-le-Vicomte / La Haye-du-Puits
The 15km stretch to the pretty, medieval cobbled town of La Haye-du-Puits finds you cycling along the disused railway line, flanked by trees. The stubborn stump of the 11th century dungeon remains, and so too does a reputation for witchcraft. Badly damaged during the war, the town has been thoughtfully restored.
Difficulty: Family view the detail -
La Haye-du-Puits / Baupte
You’re now cycling through some very pretty parts of the flat, low lying marshlands of the National Park – keep your binoculars handy to see the rich array of birdlife that makes its home here, particularly during the spring and autumn migrations when the skies come alive. Don’t miss the spectacular sunrises and sunsets!
Difficulty: Family view the detail -
Baupte / Carentan
This marshland is a managed wetland park set up to conserve biodiversity – but it’s a working landscape too, its rich pastures making Carentan a major centre of the regional dairy industry. It is also an ancient port with several ancient churches and a museum commemorating the D-Day landing at Utah Beach.
Difficulty: Family view the detail
