Cherbourg harbour and surrounding countryside

The hike begins in front of the impressive Marina Chantereyne. There are several car parks in the vicinity.

(S/E) With your back to the marina, take Rue de la Brigantine to Avenue de Cessart and follow it to the right. Pass the marine fire station on your right and continue along Rue de l'Abbaye.

(1) Continue straight ahead and, at Boulevard Guillaume le Conquérant, turn right, go around the Ancienne Abbaye du Vœu on the cycle path, then rejoin Rue de l'Abbaye. Turn right onto the pavement that runs alongside the cycle path towards the west. Further on, you will reach Boulevard de la Saline. From the start, walk alongside the shipyards, then a park and an old boundary wall. Continue to Plage de la Saline and admire the buildings of the Grande Rade de Cherbourg (see info).

(2) Continue until you reach a large roundabout. Just before the roundabout, carefully cross the road (two lanes) at the pedestrian crossing and continue along the road in the same direction.

(3) Once you have passed the roundabout and reached the park and aquatic centre, turn left onto the paved path that continues uphill towards the south. At the end of the park, go under the tunnel.

(4) After the tunnel, take the path directly to the right, then the first street on the left. It first climbs through the houses of the village of Brécourt, then turns into a very steep country lane.

(5) Climb along the Vaublat stream and continue uphill to the hamlet of Moulin de la Chaussée. Join Chemin de Brécourt coming from the left, then arrive at a crossroads with Rue de la Vallée.

(6) Turn left, cross over the Vaublat and continue straight ahead. At the five-way crossroads, continue straight ahead along the small road, following the signs for "Université". Further on, you will reach a main road, Rue Dubost, at a roundabout.

(7) Continue to the right and, after the roundabout, cross carefully and continue along or on the cycle path that runs alongside the D409. Follow this road, which sometimes continues through the countryside and sometimes through residential or commercial areas, for about 2 km.

(8) At the first roundabout, continue straight ahead. At the second roundabout near a large supermarket, take the^fourth street on the right, Avenue René Schmit. This street runs alongside gardens and small buildings on the left. Continue until you reach the start of the first stone path that descends to the left towards a green valley.

(9) Follow it. It passes between gardens and huts until it turns into Rue Camille Pelletan, surrounded by houses at the bottom, then joins Rue de la Polle.

(10) Turn left towards the hill, then turn into the first street on the right, Rue Leledier, which descends. At the end of the street, at the T-junction, opposite the stadium, turn right into Rue Pierre de Coubertin and head towards the traffic lights.

(11) Cross straight across the large Boulevard Guillaume le Conquérant. Be careful, as this is a fast road for motor traffic. Obey the traffic signals. Opposite, on the other side of the boulevard, turn left, cross Rue Pierre de Coubertin and take the pedestrian/cycle path. Keep to the right, as you will need to take this direction from the start, at the Y-junction. Continue to the junction with Rue de l'Abbaye and cross it carefully at the pedestrian crossing (two lanes).

(1) Turn right and, following the same route as on the way there, head to Marina Chantreyne (S/E).

Although part of the hike takes place in town, there are few places to refuel. However, it is easy to find somewhere to eat near the marina and in the surrounding area. Take water with you if it is hot.

(S/E) Due to its proximity to England, Cherbourg has been surrounded by land fortifications since the Middle Ages. You will walk along part of the fortifications between the marina and La Saline Beach.

(2) But the most impressive feature is the harbour. Here is some information about Cherbourg harbour.

There are actually two harbours. The small harbour, which still houses military installations.

It is contained within the large harbour. This is the largest artificial harbour in the world (1,500 hectares). It is an impressive structure, whose construction began in the 18th century under Louis XV.

Several forts have been built on the sea walls, but they are not open to the public. These include: Fort Central, originally called Fort Napoleon, Fort de l'Ouest, Fort de l'Île Pelée and Fort de Chavagnac. The latter is built on a rocky islet.