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🇬🇧 DAY 5 – THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2026
Carentan-les-Marais – History, D-Day and the Normandy Marshes
🌤️ TODAY’S WEATHER
At Gîte La Pamphilienne, Courtils: mild weather with a mixture of sunshine and cloud.
At Carentan-les-Marais: similar conditions, with mild afternoon temperatures.
🚗 9:30 – DEPARTURE FROM THE GÎTE
Leave Gîte La Pamphilienne at around 9:30 am.
Driving time: approximately 30 minutes.
🧶 10:00 – THE LONGEST YARN
Saint-Hilaire-Petitville
The Longest Yarn – D-Day Normandy is an extraordinary textile exhibition telling the story of the Normandy landings through a huge hand-knitted and embroidered installation.
📍 Église Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Hilaire-Petitville
🕚 Open Thursday 17 September: 11:00–16:00
🎟️ Free admission
This exhibition closes permanently at this location on 18 September.
Allow approximately 1 hour for the visit.
🏘️ 12:15 – DISCOVER CARENTAN
Drive into Carentan and take a relaxed walk around the historic centre.
Carentan is situated between the Douve and Taute rivers, at the heart of the Cotentin and Bessin marshes. The town has a pleasant harbour, medieval arcades and historic buildings.
Take a walk around:
- the harbour
- the old arcades
- the historic centre
- the Pont-Canal
Pont-canal de Carentan
🍴 12:45 – LUNCH
Three possibilities, all open on Thursday:
1. La p’tite escale carentan
A relaxed brasserie beside the harbour.
2. Comptoir des Marais
Traditional French cuisine in the town centre.
3. Les Ponts d’Ouve
A good option if they prefer to eat closer to the marshes.
🌿 14:30 – THE COTENTIN MARSHES
After lunch, head towards the Parc Naturel Régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin.
Parc Naturel Régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin
The area around Carentan is particularly attractive for a quiet walk through the Normandy marshes.
Optional boat trip
At Port Jourdan, the traditional marsh boats offer another way to discover the landscape.
La Guinguette des marais et Les barques des marais
Thursday opening: 10:00–18:00.
🏠 16:30 – RETURN TO COURTILS
Leave Carentan around 16:30–17:00.
BONNE JOURNEE