A Haven for Nature Lovers – Parc naturel Regional Des Marais Du Cotentin
My secret wildlife haven lies an hour south of Cherbourg at the base of the Cotentin Peninsula. The The Parc naturel Regional des Marais Du Cotentin is a lovely region of rivers, marshes, meadows, and ancient hamlets where wildlife thrives. You can walk for hours seeing only birds and animals. Spring is the best time there – the meadows are crammed with wildflowers while the dawn chorus is deafening. Though much wildlife found here can also be found in the UK and other European countries, the sheer profusion of species such as skylarks, swallowtail butterflies and marsh harriers will make any of these other countries seem positively colourless.
In addition to that, there are all kinds of exotic species of creatures to remind you that you are in a foreign country. From the white storks that you will see nesting on the edge of the wattle and daub villages to the beaver like coypus that you will see foraging in the myriad canals, this is an incredible place with incredible eco-diversity.
If that wasn’t enough, the region is also surrounded by bocage, a maze of trench like field borders that the Nazis used to stem the Allied advance onwards into Normandy after D-Day in 1944. To this day the farmers still come across shell-cases with their ploughs, whilst the D-Day beaches are a twenty minute drive away.
For a mix of human and natural history it is an unforgettable place.
Alex is a blogger and travel writer. He writes about everything from exotic destinations to beautiful hotels. He also writes a blog for mega.co.uk .
