Granville

Granville is a port town and seaside resort in the Manche department of lower Normandy, often called the "Monaco of the North" for its casino and clifftop setting. It is a gateway to the Îles Chausey and the Mont-Saint-Michel bay. The old town (Haute-Ville) occupies a rocky promontory with panoramic sea views.

Granville is accessible by train from Paris (Gare Montparnasse, about 3 hours) and from Caen. The A84 motorway connects to the N175. Ferries operate to the Îles Chausey (seasonal) and the Channel Islands. Buses serve adjoining coastal towns.

The upper and lower towns are connected by a steep walk or by elevator. The old town walls and the port area are best explored on foot. A car is useful for exploring the surrounding coast.

• The old town (Haute-Ville) — walled 15th-century citadel with cobbled streets

• Musée d'Art Moderne Richard Anacréon — modern art collection

• The casino — a Belle Époque building on the seafront

• Plage de Granville — a sandy beach below the old town

• Aquarium du Roc des Harmonies — a small regional aquarium

• Walk the ramparts of the old town for sea views

• Take a boat trip to the Îles Chausey (a 70-island tidal archipelago)

• Visit during the Carnival of Granville (February/March), a major event

• Walk the coastal path to Cap Lihou

Granville's restaurants specialize in seafood — oysters, mussels, and fish from the bay. The port area is lined with seafood restaurants and brasseries.

Cafés and bars are concentrated around the port and the casino area. Cider, Calvados, and locally brewed beer are the regional drinks.

Granville offers hotels in both the upper town (with views) and the lower town near the beach. Holiday apartments and chambres d'hôtes are plentiful.

The town center has shops selling local products. Granville is known for its seafood and for the speciality "Granville-style" mussels.

• Mont-Saint-Michel — 35 km south, the iconic abbey island
• Les Îles Chausey — accessible by ferry from Granville port
• Coutances — 30 km north, with its magnificent cathedral
• Saint-Malo — 40 km south across the border into Brittany