Granville & Chausey
The corsair city and the wild Chausey archipelago
About 1h30 from the gîte, Granville clings to a rocky headland at the southern tip of the Channel coast, overlooking the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. Nicknamed the “Monaco of the North”, its 18th-century walled upper town offers sweeping views across to the Chausey Islands on clear days. Once a thriving hub of privateering and fishing, Granville reinvented itself as a fashionable seaside resort in the Belle Époque era.
A short boat ride away (around 30 minutes from Granville harbour), the Chausey archipelago is the largest island group in the Channel: 52 islands at high tide, and over 365 at low tide. Wild sandy beaches, pink granite cottages and basking seals make this one of Normandy’s most unspoilt corners. The main island is completely car-free — a true haven of peace, perfect for families.
Back in Granville, do not miss the Christian Dior Museum, housed in Villa Les Rhumbs, the designer’s childhood home overlooking the sea. The famous Saturday morning market, the historic casino and a plate of freshly caught seafood on the harbourfront round off a memorable day out.
Check timetables with Vedettes Jobourg well in advance for the crossing to Chausey: departures depend on the tides and vary by season. A sailing on a rising tide offers the most dramatic views of the ever-changing archipelago.