Visits and activities in Cherbourg and its surroundings

The North Cotentin proposes diverse landscapes and a variety of sightseeing opportunities. You can stroll around the town and see La Cité de la Mer, the Basilica of the Sacred Trinity or the Liberation Museum. The city center of Cherbourg gives you a lot of places to see: the Italian theatre, the churches, museums, without forgetting the gardens like Parc Emmanuel Liais where you can also visit the Museum of Natural History, a heritage of sailors, scientists and adventurers.

Journey to the heart of the Roule mountain, which dominates Cherbourg, 117 meters above sea level. You can discover this place through an underground hiking trail and contemplate the flora and fauna of this unique site. You will also discover the fortifications dug during the Second World War.

The museum of Liberation sits proudly atop the mountain Roule dominating Cherbourg, 117 meters above the level of the sea. It is housed in an old fort of the Second Empire, occupied by the German army during the second world war. The museum traces the role of Cherbourg – first liberated port – during the Second World War.

You can visit the world-famous umbrella factory of Cherbourg "Le Véritable Cherbourg". The factory gives some of its secrets during a live guided tour of the site, allowing the privileged visitor to find out in real time the making of a genuine Cherbourg umbrella, which is obviously unique.

Situated in the heart of the old transatlantic harbor station of Cherbourg, La Cité de la Mer is a unique place in Normandie. You can visit the "Redoutable", the largest submarine you can visit in the world. You will also find the Aquarium with 1200 fishes in 17 basins, including the impressive "Aquarium Abyssal" which is 11 meters deep.

For your walks, visit the magnificent "Chateau Renaissance Des Ravalets" in blue schist, restored at the end of the 19th century by René de Tocqueville who also created the landscaped park surrounding it, with a rotunda greenhouse and water features. The estate, property of the city of Cherbourg since 1935, covers 18 hectares.

With "La Hague à Part", you can make a one-hour cruise through the seafront of Cherbourg aboard "the Adele" and navigate the world's largest artificial harbor (1500 hectares).

Finally, for a sweet visit, discover the Maison du Biscuit, located in Sortosville en Beaumont. A must-see establishment in the Manche, a family owned business well known for its butter biscuits and its beautiful old-fashioned grocery store. The Burnouf family makes delicious butter biscuits according to an ancestral recipe that has made the house a success since 1903.

Enjoy!