The Cotentin

The Cotentin is a beautiful area situated in Manche on the north western coast of France. The picturesque port of Barfleur was the preferred port of the old Dukes of Normandy and it was here Prince William, the only son of Henry I, went down on the « White Ship » in 1120. About 3km to the north of Barfleur is Cape Barfleur which has one of the tallest lighthouses in France at 233 feet high. There are many charming ports dotted around the coast such as Saint Vaaste, Goury and Port Racine, the smallest in France. Forget the white cliffs of Dover, the grass covered cliffs of the Nez de Jobourg are one of the highest in Europe and have panoramic views of the Cap de la Hague, Baie d'Ecalgrain and the Channel Islands.Cherbourg, France's second largest cross channel port is at the end of the pennisula of the Cotentin. The town itself is little more than a point of entry to and from France but, if do you have the time, the Cité de la mer whiles away a few hours. It's home to the deepest aquarium in Europe and the largest visitable submarine in the world.
It is also possible to visit the landing beaches of WWII such as Utah and Omaha which may be particularly poignant for those whose relatives fought here over 60 years ago.

Romantic Régneville

Régneville is a small town with a rich history. The « fours à chaux » in Régneville are disused limestone kilns that date back to the 19th century. The local limestone used to be converted into quicklime and the kilns were powered by coal from Wales. Nowdays, the kilns are used as an amphitheatre to host concerts, ballets and plays during the summer months.
The 18th century lighthouse at Agon Point gives an excellent view of Régneville. The estuary is enclosed by moving sand dunes so it's best to explore this area by foot.
The 14th century remains of Régneville castle can be seen on the journey from Monmartin-sur-mer to Régneville. It survived the 100 years' war only to be blown up by orders of King Louis XIII in 1637.
To take these shots I used a Canon EOS 1DS Mark 3 with Canon zooms 24-70 2.8L and 70–200 2.8 ISL.

Mont-Saint-Michel

After a short stay in England, I spent the rest of August in France. One of the most famous and important monuments in France is the Mont-Saint-Michel. The abbey dates back to the middle ages and mass is still celebrated here every day except Monday. Legend has it, the Archangel Micheal appeared before the bishop Aubert of Avanches and instructed him to build and concecrate a small church here. Before the year one thousand, on the request of the Duke of Normandy, a group of Benedictines settled on the rock. In the 11th and 12th centuries the monastery was built and extended and in the 13th century, the gothic section of the « Merveille » comenced.
Now, this is a commune to around 50 inhabitants and is filled with restaurants, shops and hotels. The famous La Mere Poulard restaurant is situated in one of the most unique places in the world; in the middle of the medieval city of Mont-Saint-Michel.
The tides are an important part of the Mont-Saint-Michel and the water starts to rise two hours before the high tide. Vehicles must be parked on the causeway or in designated areas or they will become quickly submerged in the water.

Mont-Saint-Michel was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979 and has over 3 million visitors each year.