Ancient and modern treasures of Jersey

The Channel Island of Jersey is a perfect destination for those seeking sea, sand, sun and daredevil adventure.

Located strategically between the northern coast of France and the southern coast of England, Jersey is one of the most attractive islands in the English Channel. This popular destination not only offers plenty of sun, pristine beaches and adventure, but also a wealth of history dating back more than a thousand years.

The largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey lies in the Bay of Mont St Michel, and is around 8,000 years old. It is close to France — 22km from the mainland — and 161km from the south of England.

Jersey, which has a population of more than 100,000, is not part of the United Kingdom, but one of the few British Crown Dependencies with Queen Elizabeth as the monarch. The island’s official currency is the British Pound Sterling.

The island boasts a rich history and heritage that mixes French and British cultures and languages on 45.5 square miles. Its regional language is Jèrriais, a form of Norman language.

Jersey is also known as a millionaire’s playground, and a tax-free haven for foreign investors through its offshore banking industry. More than 40 per cent of its economy is dependent on financial services.

The island’s capital, St Helier, is a tranquil place where you can enjoy a break away from noise and clutter of high-rise cities such as Paris and London.

There is an attractive shopping centre with pedestrianised streets and a mix of well-known departmental stores, boutiques and small local shops dotted around Market Square and Halkett Street.

Top on most visitors’ lists is St Brelade’s Bay Beach, described as one of the best and cleanest beaches anywhere. It retains its natural beauty and is not spoilt with too many hotels and restaurants.

War tunnels

Plemont Bay also offers a good beach, rocks, pools and a waterfall. The view of the beautiful cove is worth a visit when the tide is low, but keep away during high tide. There are steep steps down the beach suitable for physically fit people.

Coasteering at Greve de Lecq, St Ouen, jumping rocks and sea sports all form part of an exciting adventure in Jersey. Coasteering is the sport of exploring a rocky coastline by climbing, jumping, and swimming. Jumping between the rocks is not for the faint-hearted.

The wealth of magnificent castles, war tunnels and rural museums tell a gripping story.

A holiday in Jersey is incomplete without a visit to the war tunnels, complete with a German underground hospital, in St Lawrence. Dug in the hills using slave labour, the tunnels were originally meant to be barracks, with ammunition stores for the occupying German forces.

Also not to be missed is the medieval Mont Orgueil Castle in St Martin, positioned to protect Jersey against French invasion. In the network of stairs, towers and rooms, stories of espionage and spy networks are brought to life.

How can one forget the exploits of Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell? He remains the most successful British Formula One driver of all time, with 31 victories.

St Aubin in Jersey is the home of the Mansell Collection Museum. It has an exciting array of F1 memorabilia, including cars and trophies. As you walk through the collection, the champion himself gives an audio commentary, giving an excellent insight into his career in the fast lane.

Surprisingly, Jersey also has many wildlife and adventure parks where one can get closer to nature. One is Durrell Wildlife Park, founded more than half a century ago by the late naturalist and author Gerald Durrell. It is a sanctuary for more than 1,400 mammals and 100 endangered species, living in 32 acres of gardens and parkland. The first to arrive there was N’pongo, an African gorilla.

Also worth a visit is La Corbiere, a lighthouse built on the rocks, and offering picturesque views of the coastline.

Jersey is also an island of flowers because of its temperate climate and rich soil. More than 50 per cent of the land is agricultural, and inhabitants mostly grow potatoes and rear cattle.

In the past, farmers sold their food and flowers in boxes placed on the roadside — with no salesmen. They relied on the honesty of the customers to drop the correct amount of cash into the moneybox and take the correct quantity of produce. Nowadays, however, they have set up farm shops and markets, such as Central Market.

Jersey’s marine resources offer rich trappings for the fisheries and aquaculture industries, earning more than £6 million (Sh880 million) a year. A visit to the Beresford Fish Market is a glimpse into the variety of seafood available in the English Channel waters; lobster, prawns crabs, octopus, mussels, fresh mackerel and even squid are available in plenty.

Around Christmas time, not to be missed is a visit to La Fête dé Noué — Lé Marchi Nouormand’ — a Norman French Market which takes place in St Helier’s Royal Square. It is a remarkable way to end the year.

Whatever time you visit, there will be something to see and do in Jersey.

Photo: www.chatmagazine.co.uk

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