Tourist Attractions & Monuments Channel Islands

This church is part of the domain of the six churches offered to the abbots of Mont-Saint-Michel at the beginning of the first millennium. Its first reference dates back to 1048. This one dates from the 13th century, even if the nave and the porch were built in the 15th century and are therefore of Gothic architecture. The north wing that doubles the nave is a "baroque" addition from the 18th century. Inside the church, you can see the two stone benches on which the parish council used to stand, and a baptistery. A must-see when passing through Saint-Martin.

Saint Peter Port owes its name to its parish church, commonly called Town Church. It was built around 1042. It was often reworked and completed in 1475. This church with its thick walls served as a refuge for the population during pirate incursions. The walls bear plaques commemorating the courage of the country's sailors and soldiers. You will see funerary monuments where famous Guernseymen are buried, such as the famous privateer Nicholas Le Mesurier, who died in 1759.

On the first floor of the Dorey Center, the Guernsey Tapestry Gallery features ten panels of embroidered cloth that tell the story of over 1,000 years of local history. Each tapestry panel covers a century. It was a project that, at the time, involved the entire bailiwick community, with each resident sewing a small part of a panel. The Guernsey Tapestry Gallery also houses a small gift store with beautiful tapestry books.

The states meet on the last Wednesday and Thursday of the month, except in August. To attend a session, contact the tourist office. The Royal Court House was built in Chausey granite in 1799, then enlarged in 1822 and 1904. It is the seat of the Guernsey Parliament and the Court House. It also serves as the Bailiff's office and the RegistryOffice. The Registry Office (visit upon request) holds a valuable collection of documents.

The old neighborhood of St. Peter Port is rich in antique stores and curiosities. It stretches from Mill Street near Market Place to Trinity Square. Along its streets, you can see a small church dating from 1789 or an old pump dating from 1876. The best time to visit is in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is still shining through the leaves of the plane trees before it slowly declines. You will find granite benches to rest on.

While the island of Guernsey has often been on the front line of British battles, the former hospital built in the 18th century has now become the Guernsey Militia Museum, on the second floor more precisely. The second floor has been renovated to showcase objects and documents relating to the history of the island's soldiers and governors, as well as uniforms, weapons, medals, trophies and well-preserved banners.

Very well located, this small Maritime Museum exhibits, among other things, Roman amphorae, an ancient diving apparatus, documents dating from the Napoleonic era and colorful figureheads. A documentary also recounts the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a wrecked Gallo-Roman ship at the entrance to the port in 286 BC. On the second floor, a small gallery is set up and exhibits paintings that present landscapes of Guernsey in the 19th century.

The Guernsey Postal Museum is a small museum dedicated to the stamps and postal history of the island. Formerly linked to Great Britain (stamps sold on the island were valid throughout the kingdom), the postal administration of Guernsey became independent on October¹, 1969. The Bailiwick then issued its own stamps. In the Guernsey Postal Museum, there is of course a sales counter for Guernsey stamps. You can bring back a small souvenir or stamp a postcard to put in a blue mailbox...

This museum offers an overview of the history of the island and its architecture, geology, flora and fauna. The museum exhibits the collection of the archaeologist William Lukis. We owe to him the inventory of all the prehistoric sites of the Channel Islands. In addition, the William Carey collection is composed of a large quantity of prints and oriental ceramics. The collections also include paintings, porcelain, pottery, uniforms...

On the site of an ancient menhir, and on the very site of the mill of L'Hyvreuse, here is a tower with beautiful lines was built to commemorate the visit to Guernsey of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1846. The Victoria Tower was designed by a certain William Colling and built by Matthieu and Jacques Tostevin. You can climb to the top of the tower by its stairs and from there you will have a very nice panoramic view of the lower town of St. Peter Port, but also of the small islands of Herm and Sark.

To discover the flora, fauna and exceptional landscapes of Guernsey and the other islands of the Bailiwick, there is nothing like the excursions offered by Island RIB Voyages on board its two large Zodiacs. Each trip is an unforgettable experience, discovering the beautiful coasts of the archipelago or meeting dolphins and seals for example, accompanied by comments from very professional guides on the sites explored. The service is impeccable. And everything is done in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Dug during the Second World War by the Germans, this tunnel now houses an interesting museum dedicated to the military history of the island of Guernsey. A large part of the exhibition is dedicated to the First World War, and then to the German occupation of the island between 1940 and 1945. You can see many explanatory panels, as well as many objects of the period such as military uniforms, maps, weapons, etc.

This headquarter was the German headquarters for naval signals during the Second World War; it functioned until the armistice on May 9, 1945. You can see a very powerful transmission antenna which ensured during the war the communication with Berlin, as well as with the submarines and the ships anchored in the vicinity. A visit mainly indicated for history lovers and World War II enthusiasts in particular.

The Lady Maris II boat offers trips or rides at sea on request, for up to a dozen passengers. The skipper, a well-known local sailor who knows the waters of the islands like the back of his hand, also offers boat hire and numerous crossings to and from France (Cherbourg in particular), to and from England or to all the other Channel Islands. Please note that reservations are essential, and the organization of outings obviously depends on weather conditions.

For over a century, this very serious agency has been offering standard tours of the island (1/2 day, 1 day...) and à la carte tours. Tours scheduled upon arrival of ferries from France are possible for a glimpse of Jersey before dropping you off in time for the return boat. Walking tours are also available. The many tours are fully described on the website. The agency also offers to handle ferry and air bookings for inter-island transfers or crossings to/from France.

If the Samarès manor can be visited from Monday to Saturday, one can visit every day the superb botanical gardens, created in the 1920s by the rich and philanthropic owner of a shipping company: Sir James Knott. Today, you can enjoy a unique collection of plants on the archipelago, rich in rare botanical species. A perfect place for a romantic walk or a family outing. Also a charming store and a café-crêperie.

Convenient for families, but also available to individuals, the Jersey Heritage Pass is a passport giving unlimited access to four attractions for the price of three for seven days (Mont Orgueil Castle, Elizabeth Castle, Jersey Museum & Art Gallery and Victorian House, Maritime Museum & Occupation Tapestry Gallery, Hamptonne Country Life Museum and La Hougue Bie). It is, of course, possible to buy the pass in advance, as it is only activated from the first attraction visited.