Trip Report: The Heritage of Guernsey

Castle Cornet on Guernsey in the Channel Islands between England and France.

Ever since I read THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL SOCIETY, I’ve wanted to visit this island in the English Channel. I haven’t made it yet, so I was happy to receive this report from Emma Williams.

BTW, when I go, I’m staying at the Old Government House Hotel. Several readers have recommended it.

Enjoy!

Guernsey

is a British Crown Dependency island situated in the English Channel, only an hour’s flight from London. Its location between England and France makes for a rich selection of historical tales and exploits, so much so that it becomes the ideal destination for those travellers who are both culture seekers and history addicts.

Salon Rouge in Hauteville House, the former home of Victor Hugo.

Throughout my trip to Guernsey, I continuously made surprising discoveries. The most memorable sites ranged from German-made World War II tunnels to the residence of the famous French author Victor Hugo.

I started my Guernsey explorations at Castle Cornet, a 13^th -century fortification, which guarded the town of St Peter Port, the island’s capital, up until the mid-19^th -century. Nowadays the castle walls are home to five museums, four gardens, a café and the obligatory souvenir shop. The museums include a maritime museum, with exhibitions detailing Guernsey’s nautical heritage from the Romans to the present day; an RAF museum, telling the fabled stories of Guernsey’s 201 Squadron; as well as a light infantry museum; and Guernsey militia museum.

Fort Grey, built in1804, is home to a shipwreck museum and makes a fantastic picnic spot.

The next stop on my trip around the island was Fort Grey, locally known as the “Cup and Saucer” because of its uncanny resemblance. This crockery labeled fort, set in picturesque Rocquaine Bay, is now home to the Shipwreck Museum. The fort was built in 1804 as a defensive measure during the Napoleonic Wars and is named after Guernsey’s then governor, Charles Grey. Now full of shipwreck exhibitions, fun facts, and trivia, the museum tells the story of the island’s shipwrecks from hundreds of years ago right up to Guernsey’s latest wreck in 2003. Not only is this a fascinating museum, but its beautiful location makes it a fantastic picnic spot.

After my adventures at Fort Grey, I headed inland to the largest construction in the whole of the Channel Islands. The German Military Underground Hospital was hewn out of solid rock by captured slaves during the German forces’ occupation of the island in World War II. The hospital’s rather creepy, winding tunnels give a unique experience and insight into what it was like to suffer through those hard times.

The German Military Underground Hospital was hewn out of solid rock by
captured slaves during the German forces’ occupation of the island in World War II.

The final stop on my trip was Hauteville House, the home of the renowned French novelist Victor Hugo. The lavishly decorated house has since been made into a museum and restored to the conditions that would have existed whilst Hugo lived there. The museum and its curators tell the amazing story of his 15 years of exile on the island. With such an inspirational residence and fantastic island to live in, it is understandable why Hugo wrote some of his most famous works during his stay here. These include the world famous Les Misérables, as well as Toilers of the Sea, which he based on his experiences of the island and its people. Hauteville House is a must visit if you are in any way a fan of literature or even just a lover of the film Les Misérables.

My time on Guernsey was an enlightening experience. The island is both gorgeous and rich in culture and history – making it an outstanding holiday destination.

Emma is an avid traveller and loves visiting unusual places. She “works to travel” and loves to spend as much time exploring as possible.

Tags: Channel Islands, England, English Channel, France, German occupation, Guernsey, island, World War II

Category: England