Granville is a seaside resort and bustling port in Normandy. It consists of the historic Old Town standing on the top of a cliff and a seating area right on the seashore.
The town was founded by the Normans in the 11th century, it was well fortified from the beginning and was one of the bases for excursions towards the British Isles. In later centuries, it was besieged and destroyed many times in the subsequent Franco-English wars, each time it rose after the destruction. In the 16th century, a port was built here, which today serves both ferries going to the Channel Islands or Ireland, as well as local fishermen and tourists.
The historic upper part of the city is surrounded by the remains of defensive walls. There is the Notre Dame du Cap Lihou church, the Normandy castle rebuilt many times and the old one. stone houses.
Granville's recreational career began in the mid-nineteenth century. Initially, the picturesque town attracted mainly writers and artists, but over time, inhabitants of northern France also began to come here. The leisure area has developed below the cliff, right by the sea, not far from sandy, tidal beaches. On the cliff, outside the main buildings of the city, is the House of Christian Dior, who was born in Granville. As he himself said, the local colorful carnival processions had a great influence on the shaping of his design style. Today, the villa houses the Christian Dior Museum, one of Granville's greatest attractions.
In addition to relaxing on the beach, Granville offers a wide range of active tourism. The surrounding cliffs are great for hiking trips with views over St. Michael. You can also do water sports or take a cruise along the coast.
