A bird's eye view of Le Bout du Monde and the havre de la VanléeA weekend in our lovely Destination? Le Havre de la Vanlée is a wild, natural site in the heart of the Granville Terre & Mer Destination, in Bricqueville-sur-Mer! But what is a ” havre ” anyway? Originally, a harbor was a natural space that served as a refuge for boats seeking shelter. Some harbours still have this function, such as the Havre de la Sienne in the port of Regnéville-sur-Mer. Le Havre de la Vanlée, also known by locals as “le Bout du Monde “, forms a dune peninsula. The dune of sand and herbs extends to the mouth of a coastal river: La Vanlée.
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Until 1972, the Vanlée was crossed by a ford for cars and a wooden footbridge for pedestrians. Since then, a submersible road has made it possible to cross the Vanlée without difficulty, except on high tides.
In this natural setting, salt meadow sheep are raised in complete freedom. They roam the grasslands to the rhythm of the seasons. During high tides, they are withdrawn to the shelter of the fields. They feed on glasswort and salt grass, hence their name: pré-salés sheep! During high tides, with a coefficient of 93 or higher, the sea completely covers the salt marshes, making the road submersible! There are very few of these in France! The view is magical when combined with a blazing sunset! An astonishing spectacle with a guaranteed wow effect!
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You can discover Le Havre de La Vanlée by downloading our free hiking map.
LeHavre de la Vanlée is an integral part of this coastline, which stretches for over 70 km: the famousCôte des Havres. This coast is made up of a succession of eight harbors, located in Barneville-Carteret, Portbail-sur-Mer, La Haye, Saint-Germain-sur-Ay, Geffosses, Blainville-sur-Mer, Regnéville-sur-Mer and Bricqueville-sur-Mer. These estuaries have identical characteristics: they combinesandbanks and salt meadows, all framed by large dune massifs. Remarkable sites and monuments can be found along this unique coastline: the submersible road at Bricqueville-sur-Mer, the Pointe d’Agon, the Château de Gratot, the ornithological observatory at Geffosses, the Château de Pirou, the guardhouse at Saint-Germain and the baptistery at Portbail. A great opportunity to combine a walk in thefresh air with the discovery oflocal heritage. Visitthe Attitude Manche website to find out more about these harbours.
A bird's eye view of Le Bout du Monde and the havre de la Vanlée
Stand Up Paddle in La Vanlée harbourLe Havre de la Vanlée is also a paradise for board sports: kitesurfing, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, paddling, kayaking and more. Although it’s a free zone, it’s also a site for experienced riders. The tidal current and omnipresent wind are considerable assets, but can also represent certain dangers. The Bréhal – 8 Milles Nautic water sports center offers introductory courses and equipment hire to help you make the most of your favorite activities in complete safety!
NathalieWatching the waters rise in the Havre de la Vanlée, seeing the submersible road disappear beneath the waves, observing nature and the landscape change and, if you’re lucky, witnessing the kitesurfers take over the place and the skies. Every time, you’ll be amazed by this magical place where nature reigns supreme.
The variety of plants at Le Havre de la Vanlée is impressive, and some of them are even edible: like samphire. It looks like a small, fat plant: dark green in summer, turning red in autumn. It can be eaten in vinaigrettes, salads or as a vegetable with the famous salted meadow lamb! In addition to the famous salt-meadow lamb, the 10-hectare Le Havre is home to some 150 different bird species. You’ll find everything from egrets and mallards to grey herons, geese and many other species, making the Havre de la Vanlée a veritable bird sanctuary. Other species are also present, but these are protected!
Very useful, it helps to stabilize the living dune, like the oyat, with its powerful stolons.
With its blue-tinted flower heads and tough, prickly leaves, it is one of the emblems of our coastline, and harvesting it is prohibited.
Panicaut MaritimeA well-known species, as evidenced by the diversity of its local names: saladelle, sea lilac or slatis.
But if these blue or mauve flowers, clustered in flattened spikes, are a real eye-catcher from July to October in the harbors of the west coast, it’s worth remembering that harvesting them is regulated.
Lavande De MerGlasswort
A halophilic and edible plant, glasswort is very present in the Vanlée harbour.Oyats
Oyats on the dunes of Havre de la VanléeSea rocket
Found in the havre de la Vanlée, sea rocket (Cakile maritima), sometimes known as mouse's teat, caquilier or maritime cakilier, is an annual herbaceous edible plant that grows in a salty environment, generally on sandy seaside soils, rich in salt brought by sea spray and tides, and with a high content of nitrogenous mineral derivatives (ammoniacal salts, nitrates) due to the sea leash.Obione
Obione, a halophilic plant, grows in the havre de la Vanlée.Goat orchid
Goat orchid plants in the havre de la Vanlée
Mouton Pre SaleWe’re delighted to be able to graze in this very special area, where the tidal movement makes the grass so tasty. We’re also often amused by the number of onlookers who stop to take photos of us in our salt meadows. We are, however, well aware of the danger posed by the rapid rise of the sea during periods of high tide, and we take great care to avoid it.
Salt meadow sheep in La Vanlée harbour
