Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Jersey

At the extreme southwest of Jersey, the Corbière lighthouse is the first cement lighthouse built in the British Isles. It was first lit on April 24, 1874 and is 30 meters high. You can also see the German blockhouses, some of them repainted in the original style. The panorama is grandiose and it is one of the most touristic and photographed spots on the island of Jersey. You can access the lighthouse by a causeway. Be careful, do not enter the lighthouse at high tide, you might get stuck.

La Rocque Point is located in the extreme southeast of Jersey. It was here that Baron de Rullecourt (1744-1781) landed on January 6, 1781, before heading west towards Saint-Hélier. Guided by two Jersiais, the Frenchman had managed to find his way through this maze of rocks on the water's edge, which were nonetheless battered by strong currents. He died of wounds sustained during his battle against the English forces. Since this episode, no less than two small forts and six Martello towers defend the access today.

The perfume industry in Jersey has been famous since the 18th century. At that time, lavender was grown on a large scale, but the activity gradually disappeared. David and Elizabeth Christie took over the tradition in 1983 and grow some 70 varieties of lavender on a 2.8 hectare property. Here, visitors can walk through the fields from May to August, when the lavender is picked. They can also visit the distillery and the bottling room. Afterwards, visitors are welcomed in a tea room, and then in a store.

The longest beach on the island of Jersey, which stretches along the entire west coast of the island, is in fact shared by three communes: Saint-Ouen, Saint-Peter and Saint-Brelade. It is huge, almost straight and particularly popular with surfers, who park their vans in the many car parks, and walkers who can't get enough of it. Numerous blockhouses protect it, as it was, by its shape and size, an ideal landing place and therefore duly fortified by the German occupiers.

We reach this chasm on the side of the cliff by a small and short path. Even if the slope will seem a bit steep on the way back. Make sure you get there at high tide so that it is more impressive (at low tide it is nothing exceptional). You will notice a very kitsch statue of a devil whose hoofed feet are dipping in a greenish pond. It is only the umpteenth replica (the others have been stolen) of a figurehead of a 19th century ship which would have run aground not far away and would have given the name of "Devil's Hole" to the geological formation.

The Jersey Wetland Centre overlooks a beautiful bird sanctuary, the St. Ouen Pond, which has been protected since 1975. The center is a nature center and an interpretation center where you can observe birds in their natural environment and even nest. In addition to the many observation posts (no less than 16 windows), the center offers many explanatory panels and an exhibition for explanations on the different species and wetlands. Harriers and other wading birds await you!

Surrounded by green hills and surrounded by cliffs, Grève de Lecq is a small and friendly beach located between Saint-Ouen and Sainte-Marie in the southwest of the island. Here, it is the absolute calm and a perfect spot for a day at the beach with family, lovers or friends. Conveniently, there are a few restaurant options, in high season, above the beach. Ideal for a drink, an ice cream or a quick lunch on the go. In short, a dream spot for idleness! We love it.

Since 1831, successive owners of this beautiful granite mansion (built in 1797) had devoted themselves to wine, but the tradition was gradually lost. Fortunately, in 1968, the Blayney family, with the help of German and French winemakers (the grape varieties are German and French), managed to save the farm from ruin and re-establish a 6-hectare vineyard of quality. Annual production ranges from 13,000 to 21,000 bottles, with a range of dry white, red and rosé wines of excellent quality (Sainte-Marie, Baliwick, Perquage) sold on the estate.

On your tour (10:45, 11:45, 12:45, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 pm), you'll learn about the distillation process used to make wine and Jersey's famous cider brandy. What's more, it's all accompanied by a wine tasting (and delicious local apple juice for young and old alike)! In addition to wine, you'll also find Grapple (a refreshing blend of wine and cider), ciders, Jersey Apple Brandy and house gin, as well as many other local products such as traditional Jersey Black Butter, chocolates, fudges and cookies. A café is also available for lunch or tea. And, of course, there's a well-stocked store where you can do your shopping and slip a few goodies into your suitcase before boarding the boat home. An unmissable visit to the area.

In the hollow of the bay, you can see the islet of Guerdain, topped by a tower, known as "Janvrin's tomb". Philippe Janvrin, a sailor from Saint-Brelade, was approaching the coast when the plague broke out on board his ship. The authorities decided to quarantine the ship offshore. When he died, he was buried on this islet. The promontory of Portelet is also a nature reserve. In addition to the grandiose nature, it is an archaeological site. Excavations have brought to light the remains of Neanderthals, mammoths and rhinoceroses.

In this very extensive area of dunes, at the back of the very popular and visited bay of Saint-Ouen, one can observe a series of menhirs: the Trois Rocques, the Grand, the Petit Menhir and the Menhir Brisé and, at their heart, a burial chamber where the bones of about twenty people were found, presumably, during the excavations that brought the site to light in 1922. This megalithic site can be the occasion for a walk inland in a corner of the island where people come mostly for iodine-filled walks along the coast.

This long beach is dominated by gentle hills where pretty manors are scattered here and there. It is really nice and, when the weather is (very) good, you can see France in the distance. For swimming, it is better to go there at low tide for safety reasons. Otherwise, kayaking and sailing are particularly popular activities in the bay. It is bounded on the south by the Archirondel tower (1794) and on the north by a long jetty which advances towards the sea. The jetty, very popular with anglers, is long and can be the object of a nice little stroll. It protects some boats (but also geese and ducks!). At its entrance, not far from the popular Breakwater Café and the parking lot, you will notice a plaque commemorating the exploit of a young Jersey man who swam around the island. This Victorian jetty was one of the elements of one of the two large naval bases of the islands (the other is in Alderney). The purpose was to face a possible French attack coming from Cherbourg. Construction began in 1847 and quickly became a financial drain. Before becoming useless anyway, militarily speaking. The second pier, which was to start from the Archirondel tower and close the bay, was never built. The Sainte-Catherine's Breakwater was completed in 1855... but proved to be unsuitable to receive warships. It was to be the largest port on the south side of the English Channel after Le Havre.