Barneville-Carteret: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Cap de Carteret is a 65-metre-high rocky promontory made of Armorican sandstone and schist. It is also a protected Sensitive Natural Area owned by the département; since 2003, it has been managed by Symel.

Landscape and Beach

Plage de Carteret lies under the protection of Cap de Carteret and faces south-southwest. At Plage de la Vieille Église, there are dunes owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral; they are among the largest dunes in Europe. The Dunes d'Hatainville are wind-shaped dunes that provide a habitat for rare amphibians.

Those choosing Barneville-Carteret as a holiday destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment there.

History and Culture

The Église de Barneville is a building protected as a historic monument; it was listed by decree on 26 December 1906. The Vieille Église was built on the cliff in the 12th century and abandoned between 1686 and 1689 after it was threatened by the sea. The Chapelle Saint-Louis de Carteret has been documented since 1332; originally, it was the family Carteret's chapel within their fortified estate.

Paths and Activities

Along the Sentier des Douaniers, visitors can see the ruins of the Vieille Église. Land sailing, speed sailing and surfing are possible on the beach at the Vieille Église. The Route de la Corniche offers a viewpoint over the Côte des Isles and Jersey and provides access to the beach via a staircase.

The Phare de Carteret has 58 steps leading to the foot of the lantern; from there, it offers a 180-degree view of Cap de Carteret. The GR® 223, also known as the Sentier des Douaniers or Sentier du Littoral, is a 446-kilometre long-distance hiking trail between Carentan and Mont-Saint-Michel.

Maritime Activities and Excursions

The maritime terminal at Port des Isles offers departures to Jersey and Guernsey. The Train touristique du Cotentin uses the preserved 10-kilometre section of track between Barneville-Carteret and Portbail and provides audio commentary on the local heritage during its journeys.

Nearby, in Saint-Jean-de-la-Rivière, lies Golf de la Côte des Isles, an 18-hole coastal course with the “Les Dunes” area as a links course and “Les Mielles” in the bocage. Pôle Nautique de Carteret offers sailing, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, sea rowing and land sailing, as well as boat rentals between private individuals, boating licences, skipper-led cruises and trips on historic sailing ships. Barneville-Plage is considered a suitable place for families to go shellfishing together.

Other destination pages: Carnet, Pierreville, Giéville, Fermanville, Le Mesnil-Tôve, Bellefontaine, Auderville, Carentan

For the higher-level travel overview: Manche.