The most beautiful military monuments Channel Islands

Elizabeth Castle is built on an islet in the middle of Saint-Aubin Bay and has defended the island of Jersey for no less than 400 years. It is accessible on foot at low tide, from the Jardins de la Mer, by a 1 km long paved road. When the tide is high, a shuttle service is provided by World War II amphibious vehicles, the famous DUKWs, or ducks(departing daily from Victoria Avenue from mid-March to mid-October). Intended to replace Mont Orgueil Castle, which could not withstand cannon fire, construction began in 1590 and lasted nearly ten years. It was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth^I by Sir Walter Raleigh, then governor of the island (the castle was then used as the governor's residence). A Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, the fortress had to capitulate to Cromwell in 1651 after a 50-day siege. It was also used to repel French troops during the Battle of Jersey in 1781. The troops then moved to Fort Regent. Elizabeth Castle opened to the public in 1923. You can visit the barracks, which have been converted into a museum. They are particularly interesting: the exhibits illustrate the role of the castle in the history of the island and present many surprising details about the life of the soldiers and officers. From the upper courtyard, you can access the dungeon, the top of which offers a superb view. Visit and photos are mandatory!

On the top of the cliffs, this castle was probably built in the 14th century. Only a few ruins remain: an ogival door, remains of ramparts and machicolations. The view is superb and you will have the possibility of sumptuous walks. The name of Grosnez would be of Viking origin. In old Norwegian nes is roughly equivalent to "promontory". The Vikings gave a name to each of the promontories they had to pass: Gris Nez, Blanc Nez, Nez de Jobourg. Gros would come from grjot which would mean "rock".

Housed in the galleries of a former underground hospital, this museum depicts life in Jersey during the German occupation (July¹, 1940 - May 9, 1945). Outside, the site includes a library where visitors can consult archives, a large garden, The Garden of Reflection, and a photo exhibition held in the adjoining café. Hospital Ho8 (or Hohlgangsanlage 8) was excavated in galleries 40 metres deep and several kilometers long (some corridors are over 100 metres long). This formidable work was carried out between September 1941 and June 1944 by prisoners specially brought to the island to build German defense structures under inhuman conditions. The hospital had a capacity of over 500 people, but was so ill-adapted that it was virtually never occupied. Throughout the tunnels, visitors discover the true and terribly realistic story of the German Occupation, from the invasion of France to the liberation of the island, the social life of the Jersians, the hospital's medical facilities, the fate of forced laborers.. It's a truly interactive museum (you can touch a lot of things), as demonstrated by the facsimile identity card you'll be given at the entrance, which will enable you to follow the life of an islander during the occupation as you go on to the café. This is one of Jersey's finest museums, and since 2022 it has been offering two greatescape game courses.

The Pleinmont Observation Tower is a five-story observation tower built by the German Army during World War II and used between 1942 and 1945. The tower was intended to defend the south and west coasts as part of the Atlantic Wall defense system and is still equipped with working rangefinders. You can also visit the barracks on the days the site is open.

Built during the Second World War to serve as a hospital for German soldiers wounded during the war in France and then during the Allied landings in Normandy, it is also a maze of tunnels dug by prisoners to protect the fuel tanks of German submarines from bombs. In three years, 2 km of galleries were dug by prisoners deported from Eastern Europe, who had to extract 60,000 tons of rock.

The fortifications of this castle are almost eight centuries old. When King John Lackland lost Normandy to France in 1204, Guernsey chose to remain loyal to the English king. The island was immediately threatened by the French and the islanders decided to build Castle Cornet to protect themselves. Construction began in 1206 and lasted nearly twenty years. During the Hundred Years' War, the French and the English fought bitterly over it and it passed from hand to hand several times, after fierce battles.

As military techniques progressed, the castle was constantly reinforced and modified. During the civil war that tore England apart, the governor of Guernsey, Peter Osborne, withdrew there and challenged the rest of the island who had sided with Cromwell. The castle had to endure a siege of nearly nine years, during which it received the invaluable support of Jersey, which remained loyal to its sovereign. More than 100,000 cannonballs were fired against the castle.

At the time of the restoration of royalty, it was the prison of Sir John Lambert, Cromwell's former general, who was feared to be taking over the succession. But Lambert had become peaceful again, and he spent his captivity lovingly landscaping the castle gardens, which can be visited today. In 1672, a dramatic accident occurred. During a violent storm, lightning fell on the ammunition depot, which exploded. The blast caused the keep to collapse, taking with it the dwelling where Lady Hatton, the governor's wife, was staying.

During the Napoleonic era, for fear of another French attack, Castle Cornet was modernized and armed with formidable cannons, which were never used. When hostilities between the English and French ended, the castle was used as an arsenal, prison and barracks. Its military function was abandoned until 1940, when the Germans invaded the island. The Germans concreted some parts of the castle in order to integrate it into their defense system, the Atlantic Wall.

The gardens are maintained with a very English care. The many rooms of the fortress present a wide variety of exhibits, 4 small museums are housed there: the Royal Guernsey Militia Museum, 201 Squadron RAF, the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum (former armory of the castle presenting a collection of weapons from the Middle Ages to the present) and a painting gallery, The Story of Castle Cornet Museum.

On the Braye Harbour breakwater, Fort Doyle and Fort Grosnez were both built by General Doyle during the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century and had many cannons at the time. But they were also used by the German occupiers during World War II as part of the defense system called the Atlantic Wall. Today they are part of the landscape of the island and can be the object of a nice walk.

On the edge and off the coast of the bay of the same name, this military building is set on a rocky spur and is connected to the coast by a causeway covered at high tide. Its architect, William Jervois, wanted to respect the environment and tried to blend its fortifications into the landscape from the 19th century. It has since been transformed into apartments, which you can rent if you wish. Also worth seeing is Fort Tourgis, another hillside barracks, much more showy and also built in the mid-nineteenth century.

It is difficult to miss Fort Essex, this huge Victorian fort with Tudor ramparts that majestically dominates Longis Bay. It was the first fortification in Alderney: the fort was built by King Henry VIII between 1549 and 1554 but was never actually completed. The fort can be seen from most points on the Alderney footpath and was used by the Germans as an important observation post during the Second World War.

Today, the fort is unfortunately no longer open to the public as it has been renovated and converted into private apartments. Closer to the edge of the cliff, you can see Hanging Rock, a 15-meter high rock overlooking the sea. Off Longis Bay, Fort Raz is only accessible at low tide. Notice to walkers!

The beach of Longis Bay is in fact one of the best sheltered on the island, thanks to the anti-tank wall built by the German army to counter any attempt of landing by the Allies. On the shores of Longis Bay, high walls (which do not admit their origin) form an enclosure named by legend, or by the English soldiers in the 18th century, the Nunnery (the "convent of women"). It looks like a big fortified farm, but it would be in fact an old fortification of the end of the Roman Empire. It is one of the oldest on the island of Alderney. It was rebuilt in 1793 to house an English garrison.

This ruin was the most important fort of the island in the last century (Albert was the husband of Queen Victoria). It dominates the Braye creek and the harbor. Then the castle at Etoc, between Saye Bay and Corblets Bay, where a tunnel allowed the "vraic tchérieux" (the seaweed collectors) to leave the beach with their ox carts. Going back south,Fort Hommeaux Florains, located on an islet, Fort Quesnard which occupies the point, and Fort Houmet Herbé, which overlooks the Raz Blanchard, protected the eastern coast. They are now all in ruins.

Noirmont Point is the southernmost point on the island of Jersey. Beyond its superb view, this promontory is also a War Museum. This open-air spot, displays heavy artillery pieces from various eras. The promontory also bears three observation towers built by the Germans during the Second World War, as well as the Lothringen artillery battery. The latter was part of the famous Atlantic Wall, the set of coastal fortifications built by the Third Reich to defend itself.

This is a beautiful fortress(Stutzpunkt Rotenstein by its German name) dating from the time of the German occupation (and renovated since) which was supposed to guard the north of Vazon Bay as part of the Atlantic Wall. To the north, you will see the Martello Tower built in 1804. It is still possible to see remains of the original red granite fort. An interesting visit to imagine the living conditions of the Germans in a bunker.

There does not remain about it today more large-thing, but this fortress has a long history. Only the thick walls today are recognized. Its initial interest was to sit enthroned in the center of an island placed strategically well. This island is not today any more, water were driven out. The hill of the island was seems it occupied since the iron age with a fort going back to 600 av. J. - C. the medieval fort goes back him to 1400. Hutments were added to the 18th century (for the wars vis-a-vis the French) before being destroyed by the Germans in 1945.

Both a fortress and a three-story watchtower (which offers a superb view of the coastline from its top), the imposing Rousse Tower was built in the 19th century to defend the island of Guernsey from a possible French invasion and has since been fully restored and is equipped with replicas of five cannons. Even if today it is closed to the public for rehabilitation, one can take advantage of a walk in this beautiful corner of the island to have a look at it from the outside. Before you can enjoy it again.

Rebuilt after being destroyed by a storm, the site of Perelle Battery, a short distance from Fort Richmond, is interesting because it shows how, at the beginning of the 18th century, the oldest military batteries (it was built in 1816) were reinforced for a better protection of the island of Guernsey. Perelle Battery has two twenty-pound cannons. It can in any case be the object of a nice walk on a nice day. And the panorama offered by this historical site is superb.

Here are the remains of a small fort at the southern end of Rocquaine Bay. It was built as early as 1680 on a rocky promontory protected by large stone walls and enlarged as time went on. The fort was extensively restored in 1842 and retained its three cannons overlooking Rocquaine Bay at the southwestern end of the island. It was therefore part of the last major works undertaken on the coast in the 19th century, as the southeast coast is naturally protected by high cliffs. A very pleasant stop during a walk in the area.

A small building that is a must see! The Sark prison, built in 1856 at the end of The Avenue, has two small cells of about 5^m2, which are usually empty. But in a serious case, anyone who has broken the law can be locked up for 48 hours. The constable and his assistant, the "vingtenier", have the power of incarceration. After 48 hours, the prisoner is either released or transferred to Guernsey. It is notably known as the smallest prison in the world still in operation.

Also called Ivy Castle by the islanders, this 13th century castle was one of the first defenses of Guernsey. It stands a little behind Belle Grève Bay. Fallen into ruin in the 14th century, it was restored during the 18th century and used by the Germans as a bunker during the Occupation. They installed an anti-aircraft battery there. After the liberation of the islands, it was largely restored again in the 1970s. It is now classified as a historical monument by the States of Guernsey, the island's parliament.

This fort was conceived at the end of the 18th century, in 1780 to replace Castle Cornet which had become very vulnerable to the technical progress of artillery at that time. Fort George ensured the defense of the harbor of Saint-Peter-Port and Guernsey from the beginning of the 19th century. Located on the heights of the main town of the island, it also had a choice location. And today it offers a superb view of the Guernsey coastline.

The bay, very easy to approach, and its small harbor were protected by this large tower located on the heights of the coastline, and which was supposed to prevent the enemy from entering the lands of Guernsey. The tower is still standing today and in a fairly good state of preservation. The tower is open to tourists from time to time and tours are organized by volunteers. Find out more on the Guernsey Museums website or on the Facebook profile of Saints Bay Loop Tower 14. Notice to all old stones lovers!