Set off on foot from the centre of Granville, and you will soon start climbing towards the old town ("Haute Ville") with its narrow cobbled streets of houses built from local granite and its panoramic views towards the islands of Jersey and Guernsey to the west and north and in the direction of the Mont Saint-Michel and Brittany to the south-west.

Built on its own little peninsula, once the basis of the town's defences, Granville is particularly compact and as such is the ideal resort for holidaymakers who are happy to abandon their cars in order to explore and enjoy the facilities offered by this bustling town and port.

Granville is popular with boat owners, many of whom moor their yachts round in the purpose-built marina, and it also has an operational fishing port that supports, either directly or indirectly, about 500 families. In addition there are boat links from the harbour to Chausey, a small archipelago of little islands just off the coast of Granville, which is now home to a few fishermen but where a granite quarry once produced stone for the locality as well as for the city pavements in Paris and London, and there are also services to Jersey and Guernsey.

Today the resort is definitely a holiday destination, offering plenty of events and activites for visitors. It boasts two beaches suitable for swimming, sunbathing and family fun, situated on either side of the peninsula, and there are 15 hotels as well as a number of chambres d'hôtes, gîtes and camp sites. For one week in July ever year the town's authorities organise a special street festival, "Les Sorties de Bain", timed to coincide with people leaving the beach at the end of the day. However, year round entertainment can be found at Granville's casino, offering the usual games and slot machines as well as a tea room and restaurant. Regular concerts and plays are staged at the Archipel concert hall, and the winter months are warmed by the anticipation of the colourful Carnaval held every year to celebrate Mardi Gras.

Extract from Press Dossier "La Manche, Normandy Peninsula - 2005 Press Pack" - Manche Tourisme.

Places to stay nearby : Le Mascaret