Manche
Encyclopedia
Manche is a French
department in Normandy
named after La Manche ("the sleeve"), which is the French
name for the English Channel
.
on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the province of Normandie
.
The first capital was Coutances
until 1796, and it resumed that role after World War II
because of the almost complete destruction of Saint-Lô
during the D-Day
invasion of Normandy. When Saint-Lô was rebuilt, it again became the capital.
down to the famous Mont St Michel; though not the off-shore Îles Anglo-Normandes, which are British Crown Dependencies. These islands are a wonderful example of when Normandy invaded England and vice-versa, and oaths of allegiance to new kings got mixed up. Other reefs and not quite islands such as the Minquiers
are technically British, though they are annually contested in good fun by French and Channel Island fishermen. The coast is fantastic for sailing and boating though the unusually fast tidal races require a certain yachting skill to navigate safely.
The region is lush and green with amazing sandy beaches, remaining very rural and farming orientated. The peninsula was originally joined as a single land mass to Cornwall and Dorset in England, so the countrysides are very similar. Flat marsh areas as Marais are common and great for wildlife and bird watching. Walking, cycling, and horse riding are possible on local trails from most towns, opening up some of Europe's most beautiful scenery. A wonderful canal tow path, river Vire, and disused railway line walk from the north coast past St. Lo to Mont St Michel, is another way to take in the countryside stopping off as you go in nearby towns.
The region and around St Lo is the horse capital of France, where the cooler climate compared to the south is ideal for breeding and training. The national Haras stud at St Lo is worth a visit as it reflects the history of people working successfully with horses on their local land.
France's first EPR reactor is near completion at Cherbourg and the TGV fast trains are planned for Paris to Caen and Cherbourg for 2020. The current train service is reasonable at 2 1/2 hours on a through train. Its hard to imagine now the World War II landings and the sheer scale of destruction that was done to the area, an area chosen then for its geography and wide coastal sandy beaches.
, with relatively mild winters temperatures can drop to -10°C for a few days occasionally. Temperate summers, around 25°C, can occasionally reach 40°C in direct sun light. Precipitation is substantial, and varies greatly by region, between 700mm on the coast and 1300mm in the southern central area. Highly localised, not life threatening flash flooding has been experienced over the last few years in the spring period.
The west coast benefits from the Gulf stream
's influence, allowing the naturalization of many mediterranean and exotic plants (mimosas, palms, agaves...).
There is often a sea breeze on the coast, which combined with tides contributes to quick temperature changes over a single day. Sea temperatures can be very pleasant for swimming between July and October.
A whole wiki about the Manche ! Comité départemental du tourisme de la Manche
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
department in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
named after La Manche ("the sleeve"), which is the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
name for the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
.
History
Manche is one of the original 83 departments created during the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the province of Normandie
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
.
The first capital was Coutances
Coutances
Coutances is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-History:Capital of the Unelli, a Gaulish tribe, the town took the name of Constantia in 298 during the reign of Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus...
until 1796, and it resumed that role after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
because of the almost complete destruction of Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô is a commune in north-western France, the capital of the Manche department in Normandy.-History:Originally called Briovère , the town is built on and around ramparts. Originally it was a Gaul fortified settlement...
during the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
invasion of Normandy. When Saint-Lô was rebuilt, it again became the capital.
Geography
The Department includes the Cotentin PeninsulaCotentin Peninsula
The Cotentin Peninsula, also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy, forming part of the north-western coast of France. It juts out north-westwards into the English Channel, towards Great Britain...
down to the famous Mont St Michel; though not the off-shore Îles Anglo-Normandes, which are British Crown Dependencies. These islands are a wonderful example of when Normandy invaded England and vice-versa, and oaths of allegiance to new kings got mixed up. Other reefs and not quite islands such as the Minquiers
Minquiers
The Minquiers are a group of islands and rocks situated 9 miles south of Jersey forming part of the Bailiwick of Jersey....
are technically British, though they are annually contested in good fun by French and Channel Island fishermen. The coast is fantastic for sailing and boating though the unusually fast tidal races require a certain yachting skill to navigate safely.
The region is lush and green with amazing sandy beaches, remaining very rural and farming orientated. The peninsula was originally joined as a single land mass to Cornwall and Dorset in England, so the countrysides are very similar. Flat marsh areas as Marais are common and great for wildlife and bird watching. Walking, cycling, and horse riding are possible on local trails from most towns, opening up some of Europe's most beautiful scenery. A wonderful canal tow path, river Vire, and disused railway line walk from the north coast past St. Lo to Mont St Michel, is another way to take in the countryside stopping off as you go in nearby towns.
The region and around St Lo is the horse capital of France, where the cooler climate compared to the south is ideal for breeding and training. The national Haras stud at St Lo is worth a visit as it reflects the history of people working successfully with horses on their local land.
France's first EPR reactor is near completion at Cherbourg and the TGV fast trains are planned for Paris to Caen and Cherbourg for 2020. The current train service is reasonable at 2 1/2 hours on a through train. Its hard to imagine now the World War II landings and the sheer scale of destruction that was done to the area, an area chosen then for its geography and wide coastal sandy beaches.
Climate
The climate is oceanicOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
, with relatively mild winters temperatures can drop to -10°C for a few days occasionally. Temperate summers, around 25°C, can occasionally reach 40°C in direct sun light. Precipitation is substantial, and varies greatly by region, between 700mm on the coast and 1300mm in the southern central area. Highly localised, not life threatening flash flooding has been experienced over the last few years in the spring period.
The west coast benefits from the Gulf stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
's influence, allowing the naturalization of many mediterranean and exotic plants (mimosas, palms, agaves...).
There is often a sea breeze on the coast, which combined with tides contributes to quick temperature changes over a single day. Sea temperatures can be very pleasant for swimming between July and October.
Sports
- Football : main clubs : AS Cherbourg, US Avranches, Saint-Lô, Granville, Villedieu, UST Équeurdreville-Hainneville...
- Cycling : the Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
has visited the department 21 times with stages ending at : Cherbourg (16), Avranches(2), Granville(1), Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët(1) and the Mont Saint-Michel(1). - Sailing: the Solitaire du FigaroSolitaire du FigaroThe Solitaire du Figaro, previously called the Course de l'Aurore, is a solo multi-stage sailing race created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault...
has come to Cherbourg several times. - Thai boxing : Villedieu-les-Poêles
- Badminton : Two local clubs compete in the national championship (N3): St Hilaire du Harcouet and Hainneville.
- Golf: course: GranvilleGolf de Granville Baie du Mont St MichelThe Golf de Granville Baie du Mont St Michel is a 27 hole golf course located at Bréville-sur-Mer , approximately 4 miles north of Granville, Normandy, France.The course was laid out in 1912 by Harry Colt and is the only true links course in France...
, Bréhal, Coutainville, Cherbourg, Centre Manche, Fontenay, Côte des Isles
See also
- Cantons of the Manche department
- Communes of the Manche department
- Arrondissements of the Manche department
- CotentinaisCotentinaisCotentinais is the dialect of the Norman language spoken in the Cotentin Peninsula. It is one of the strongest dialects of the language on the mainland.-Dialects:...
, the NormanNorman languageNorman is a Romance language and one of the Oïl languages. Norman can be classified as one of the northern Oïl languages along with Picard and Walloon...
dialect of Manche.
External links
Prefecture website General Council websiteA whole wiki about the Manche ! Comité départemental du tourisme de la Manche