Barneville-Carteret is a village of Manche department, in Normandy region. French, English, Belgian, Dutch tourists appreciate this spa for the numerous activities it offers and its relaxing environment. The village is facing the Anglo Norman islands (Ecrehou, Jersy, Sercq, Herm, Aurigny, les Minquiers, Guernesey and Chausey).
Access
By car, Barneville-Carteret can be reached from Paris within 3h30 via the RN13 road. The A84 motorway provides access to the town from Rouen, Cherbourg or Mont St Michel.
The closest airport is Cherbourg-Maupertus.
As for railway services, Valognes is the closest train station and is on the Paris Saint Lazare/Cherbourg line.
History
The oldest parts of the city date back to the Romanesque period (11th-12th century). Barneville sur Mer joins Careteret in 1965 to form Barneville-Carteret city.
Activities
Barneville Carteret can be divided into three places of interest:
# Carteret is a fishing harbour and a marina providing a shelter to fishermen, sailboats and launch crews sailing to Channel sea, Brittany or Anglo Norman harbours. These islands are accessible from Easter to October thanks to sea shuttle service. The Carteret spa with its hotels, villas and parks has kept its 1900 decor intact.
# Barneville town was built according to Middle Ages construction plans around its Romanesque church which enabled to keep watch on the coast. The city provides all amenities and services and is particularly lively on Saturdays, day of the market: fish, seashells, flowers, fruits and vegetables, cheese, among others, are sold.
# Barneville Beach where, during low tide, the walkers can find in the rocks or the sand numerous sea creatures: limpets, cockles, whelks, crabs, winkles, velvet swimming crabs, shrimps… Barneville beach is being watched from July 1st to August 31st.
Carteret beach which is facing south and sheltered by a cliff is being watched during the same period. Finally, “la plage de la Vieille Eglise” is a huge wild beach; it is not watched and is ideal for speed-sail and sand yacht activities.
A few monuments are worth seeing such as “La Vieille Eglise” which is a heritage listed church standing in the middle of sand dunes. The chancel and the tower bell are the only remaining parts of Saint-Louis church, and are surrounded by the old cemetery. Saint Germain d’Auxerre Church in Barneville is one of the most interesting churches of Cotentin area; it was built around 1140 and its tower had been fortified from 1405 to 1412 due to the repeated English incursions. Graffard Manor house was built in 1574-1575 and had been seized by the English during the Hundred Years War. Carteret Manor house was built near the marina during the 18th century. Finally, the visitor can discover the old Ormes houses, nearby the Carteret Manor house: above their entrance door, there is a wall plate stating the name of the first owner and the date the house was built on.
Other activities are rowing, Lyonnaises bowls, sailing, golf, tennis, fishing, horse riding and hiking.
The market takes place every Thursday morning in Carteret, every Saturday morning in Barneville town and every Sunday morning during July and August in Barneville beach.
Food and Drink
Every year, the Day of Sea Food is organized in the centre of Cherbourg-Octeville (30 minutes from Barneville Carteret).
Sea food is a major part of Manche diet: soles, sea bream, sea bass, john dory, ray and many other fish can be found everywhere in the region. Manche department is the first producer of oysters in France. Granville is the first harbour in France for whelks and the Chausey islands abound in lobsters. Manche is also proud of its Apple trees and apple based food and drinks: cider, Pommeau, Calvados, apple liqueur, cider confit and apple jelly are the most famous. Normandie is also popular for its cheese of which Camembert and Pont l’Eveque are good examples. L’Andouille de Vire is a speciality of Villedieu les Poele and Vire and his one of the most traditional meals in the region.
Restaurants
- LA MARINE, Hotel-restaurant, traditional cuisine 11 rue de Paris, Barneville Carteret. Tel : 02.33.53.83.31
- LES ISLES L.F – specialities with fish and sea food – 9, Boulevard Maritime, Barneville Carteret. Tel: 02.33.04.90.76
- LE GOHAN 1 rue au Lait – Les Rivieres, Barneville-Carteret. Tel : 02.33.04.95.33
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