Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue combines maritime history with an exceptional cultural heritage: the Vauban towers on ÃŽle Tatihou and at Fort de la Hougue in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.
Those choosing Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue as their holiday destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
Culture
At the beginning of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue’s large breakwater stands the Chapelle des Marins. It contains the choir of Saint-Vaast’s first parish church, dating from the 11th century, and is dedicated to those who lost their lives at sea. A guided tour of the Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou is led by an oyster farmer.
The Musée maritime de Tatihou preserves archaeological finds from the wrecks of the Battle of La Hougue in 1692. Its collections also cover ethnology, the history of coastal life on the coast of Basse-Normandie, and biodiversity.
Nature
Tatihou is owned by the Conservatoire du littoral and features a variety of natural habitats, such as heathland, tidal flats, and small cliffs. The island is also an ornithological site where more than 100 bird species can be observed throughout the year.
Plage de la Hougue beach runs along the Vauban fort and faces due east towards the sea of the English Channel.
Getting around
Tatihou can be reached from Saint-Vaast by the amphibious boat Tatihou III. Depending on the tides, it travels on the water or rolls over land. The port of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue is both a fishing port and a marina, with 760 berths in the water, including 80 visitor berths.
A 5 km-long greenway enables pedestrians and cyclists to safely reach the town centres of Réville and Quettehou, as well as the tips of Jonville and La Hougue. In addition, the Sentier Vauban trail extends for 10.0 km; this easy hiking trail takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete.
