The most beautiful military monuments Aurigny (Alderney)

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.