Jersey

Jersey - map

Wikipedia article about Jersey

 

Main attractions

The small island of Jersey is very rich with archaeological heritage, but here are found impressive castles, amazing formations of sea coast, numerous beautiful gardens and other interesting attractions as well.

Natural landmarks

• Devil’s Hole – Collapsed cave near the sea. There has formed some 30 m wide and more than 60 m deep funnel with roaring sea below.
• Le Noir Pré in St Ouen - Unique orchid meadow with one of the largest populations of Jersey orchid (Anacamptis laxiflora) and three more species of orchids. Flowering in May and June.
• La Grève au Lanchon in Plémont Cave – Seaside cave with tall waterfall falling over the entrance.

Man made landmarks

Megaliths

• La Hougue Bie – One of the most impressive passage graves with a 18.6 metres long chamber, under a 12.2 metres high earthen mound. Built circa 4000 - 3500 BC.
• La Hougue des Geonnais – Passage chamber grave. Capstones have been removed but there are well visible walls of passage. Created in Neolithic Age, circa 4000 – 3250 BC.
• La Pouquelaye de Faldouet - Passage chamber grave with stone structure remaining, including an enormous, 24 tons heavy capstone. Aligned with solar equinox. Rich archaeological finds. Created in Neolithic Age.
• La Sergenté - Passage grave with circular chamber. Dry stone walls preserved up to 75 m high.
• Le Dolmen du Couperon - 8 m long chambered grave with capstones. Surrounded by a ring of 18 stones – peristalith. Created in Chalcolithic Age (3250 – 2250 BC).
• Le Mont de la Ville - Unusual Neolithic passage grave. Consists of covered passage, which leads into unroofed circular chamber with roofed side chambers – cists.
• Les Monts Grantez - Neolithic passage grave made of massive granite blocks. Capstones preserved. Passage leads into oval chamber with small side chamber. During archaeological excavations found nine skeletons and other finds.
• Ville-ès-Nouaux - Group of megalithic monuments – a long chamber and cist-in-circle. Originally created in Neolithic Age but used as a graveyard also in Bronze Age.

Churches

• St Brelade's Church - Medieval church, built before 1035 and extended later, in 12th – 15th centuries.
• Fisherman’s Chapel in St Brelade (Chapelle-ès-Pêcheurs) - One of few remaining medieval chapels. Build time is not well known, most likely built circa 12th century. Main value of the church is unique wall paintings circa 1310 – 1315 AD.

Castles

• Elizabeth Castle - Impressive stronghold, built in 1594 – early 17th century on a small island. Residence of the governors of Jersey.
• Grosnez castle ruins - Ruins of castle, which was built circa 1330. Located on 60 m high rock, surrounded by the sea from three sides.
• Mont Orgueil - Impressive hilltop castle. This seaside hill has been used as fortification since prehistoric times. Construction of present castle was started in 1204. Repaired in 18th and 20th century.

Other man-made attractions

• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust - Zoological park and research centre, established in 1959 by Gerald Durrel. Contains more than 190 species of animals, most of them very rare. Shaped with great respect to native landscape, fauna and flora of Jersey.
• Eric Young Foundation orchid greenhouse - One of the finest collections of tropical orchids in United Kingdom.
• Hohlgangsanlage 8 - Underground hospital complex with more than 1 km of tunnels completed. Built by German army in during World War II as military retreat and hospital.
• La Cotte de St Brelade - Cave and grottoe, site of Paleolithic habitation. Some 250 000 years ago here lived Neanderthal man. In the cave found remnants of numerous Pleistocene mammals.
• Samarès Manor and gardens - Historical manor house with beautiful herb gardens developed in 20th century.
• Hermitage of St Helier - Stone hermitage built on a steep cliff island, now connected to Elizabeth Castle. St. Helier reportedly lived here circa 550 AD.