Northern Europe & UK

St. Peter Port, Guernsey

Fortified against invasion for centuries, Guernsey is dotted with castles and coastal defense forts. During World War II, the Channel Islands were the only part of the United Kingdom occupied by the Germans. This quaint harbor whose narrow, cobbled streets and granite houses rise in tiers on the hillside is actually the isle of Guernsey's capital. In town, visit St. Peter's Church and the 13th-century Castle Cornet. Or opt for an excursion to the countryside's pastoral vistas.

Highlights

GERMAN OCCUPATION MUSEUM
The museum’s excellent historical displays chronicle the years of German occupation (1940 - 1945).

THE GOLD AND SILVERSMITHS
Skilled gold and silversmiths produce exquisite jewellery in a workshop housed in a converted 16th century barn.

HAUTEVILLE HOUSE
Novelist Victor Hugo spent 15 years of exile at this house in St. Peter Port. Here he wrote Les Miserables and Les Travaileurs de la Mer.

HERM
A walking tour explores tiny Herm, an idyllic island that is 1.5 miles (2.4km) long and .5 miles (.8km) wide.

LITTLE CHAPEL
Made of simple materials, the chapel is decorated with pebbles, shells, and pieces of colored china.

SARK
There are no motorcars on this small island, one of the last feudal domains in Europe. The Seigneur of Sark holds the island en fief directly from the crown.

SAUSMAREZ MANOR
The Manor is home to a collection of historical artifacts spanning seven centuries as well as the largest sculpture collection in the United Kingdom.