Guernsey Holidays – Where To Go

ST Peter Port

Guernsey’s capital resembles a sophisticated fishing village. The best view is from Victoria Tower near Candie Gardens – key from the fire station. It’s one of three towers which can be seen from the harbour; another is Elizabeth College, a Gothic extravaganza, the third is St James’s Church. Residential St Peter Port is characterized by Regency terraced houses, many with distinctive wrought-iron work.

Castle Cornet, the harbor

Local shellfish is sold on the causeway leading to the castle, and the circular lighthouse platform is a favorite angling spot. Lit at night, the Norman castle is an impressive sight.

Town Church, High St

Finest church in Guernsey’, possibly in the Channel Islands. Chancel is 12th c, south chapel  15th c. Its story is linked more to that of the Duchy of Normandy than of England; inscriptions on the chancel floor are in French.

Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery, Candie Gardens

New and attractive museum of Guernsey history. Many artists, including Renoir, have been  impressed by the clarity of the light here, and the art gallery has a good collection of  water-colours of the island. In a glass bandstand you can drink tea and look out over lovely Candie Gardens, with its immaculate sweep of lawn towards the sea and gardens with fish-ponds, rock-pools and giant palm trees. A statue of Victor Hugo stands sentry at the top.

Hauteville House, Hauteville

Home in exile of Victor Hugo, who lived here from 1855 to 1870. Now belongs to the City of Paris. Hauteville has an austere facade and a remarkable interior: a ruby-red drawing room has damask covering floor, walls and ceiling; one guest room is all carvings, made out of anything from church pews to chair legs, some carved by Hugo, whose grandfather was a cabinet-maker. The glass-floored look-out at top of the house is where Hugo wrote ‘Toilers of the Sea’, dedicated to the people of Guernsey.

Royal Court, Court Row

Granite fronted late 18th c building housing Guernsey’s island parliament, the States of Deliberation or ‘the States’. Visitors can listen from the public gallery. Formalities and voting are carried out in French; note the Guernsey flag in front.

Priaulx Library, Candie Rd

Old-fashioned public library with chintz-covered chairs, leather-bound books on local history, and a rose garden through the window – perfect for a rainy day. A gift from Osmond de Beauvoir Priaulx who died in 1981. He hasn’t gone far; in a small bronze urn by one of the tiled fireplaces are his ashes.

Notre Dame du Rosaire, Burnt Lane

Secluded Roman Catholic church has a ceiling built like an upturned boat. On Sundays the Canon, Pere Maurice Lecluze, conducts services partly in English, partly in Latin, partly in French. During the summer well-known French musicians play here.