Cherbourg
A mound rising above the shops, houses and church spires is Roule Mountain (actually more of a hill at 120 metres), and a trip to the top gives wonderful views. Look out for Cherbourg ferries sailing in and out.
As well as welcoming holidaymakers, Cherbourg Ferry Port has a pedigree of prestigious sailing events such as round-the-world yacht races. It has also played host to the Tall Ships Race, for beautiful fully rigged three-masted vessels.
Ferry Port Facilities
Need to eat before you board your ferry? Want some euros, left luggage or a book for the journey? Travelling with a baby?
Where can I drive to?
- There is fast access out of Cherbourg to the surrounding towns via the E46, so you are free to roam Normandy after driving off your car ferry
- The beaches of the Cotentin peninsula begin just a few minutes’ away
- Paris is 220 miles from Cherbourg on good motorways
- Caen is only an hour and a half away along the E46, and an ideal departure point for a return ferry to Portsmouth Port
Best of Cherbourg
- La Cité de la Mer is a huge maritime museum and aquarium in a converted cruise liner terminal offering a great day of sea discovery and a visit to a decommissioned nuclear submarine.
- The Liberation Museum is a fascinating trip back in time to the Battle of Normandy after D-Day on 6 June 1944. During the Battle of Cherbourg, American troops isolated then captured the fortified port, considered vital to the campaign in Western Europe, in a hard-fought three-week campaign.
- The Ludiver Observatory and Planetarium is a must for those with an interest in astronomy. It is located in Les Pieux, a short drive away.
- La Marina is a popular contemporary restaurant with views over a busy quayside and bobbing yachts. It earns good reviews for its local seafood.
Did you know?
- The Cotentin Peninsula was the first French territory conquered by the Vikings, who promptly made Cherbourg a port.
- Napoleon ramped up the perfectly natural harbour into a major transatlantic port and fortified it against the British. An equestrian statue commemorates his boast that he would "recreate the wonders of Egypt" in Cherbourg – he didn’t!
- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) is one of the most famous French films and stars Catherine Deneuve as a lovesick 17-year-old who falls pregnant to a car mechanic.
- Originally just Cherbourg, the city was renamed in 2000 when it absorbed the neighbouring community of Octeville. It is now officially Cherbourg-Octeville.
Operator
Brittany Ferries operate daily sailings to Cherbourg. See our Operators & sailings page for more information.
For more information on Cherbourg visit www.ville-cherbourg.fr
