3 Historic Attractions You Must Visit in Jersey
History buffs heading to a hotel in Jersey for their holidays will be well catered for, as there are plenty of fascinating sites to explore. From prehistoric relics to World War II defenses, you’re sure to keep yourself busy sightseeing.
In fact, with so much to discover, it pays to carefully plan your itinerary before you arrive so you can choose what you most want to see during your stay. Here are three sites worth visiting.
Elizabeth Castillo
This handsome fortress at St. Helier was the home of Sir Walter Raleigh while he served as Governor of Jersey between 1600 and 1603. It was built with remarkable speed, with work beginning in the 1590s.
A key element of its defensive structure is the fact that it cannot be reached when the tide is high. The walkway leading from St Aubin’s Bay on the mainland dips into the water, meaning that if it’s not low tide you’ll have to take a boat to get to it and back again.
As well as Raleigh, the castle also offered refuge to Charles II during the English Civil War and his future on the throne seemed in doubt. Centuries later, it was used as part of the Nazis’ defensive strategy in World War II, with troops reinforcing it against a possible Allied attack. If you’re interested in this time period, it’s also worth heading to St Lawrence so you can visit the Jersey War Tunnels.
Mount Orgueil
This is perhaps the landmark that most identifies with Jersey as it is truly beautiful. Perched on a hill above Gorey Harbour, you’re rewarded with stunning views of the sea here, so you can include a stop on a coastal walk.
As well as being stunning to behold from the outside, there’s plenty to turn heads on the inside too, from the seemingly endless network of spiral staircases to the life-size wooden soldiers standing guard against attack.
There are some unusual exhibits inside for you to see, including the urine wheel, which was used in medieval times by doctors trying to diagnose their patients’ illnesses. There is also a witchcraft exhibit in the cellar and a wounded soldier, showing the risks that could be taken by those fighting to protect the castle.
La Hougue-Bie
When you come to this site, you have the opportunity to explore a beautiful medieval chapel and something much older. Although you may not notice it right away, the mound on which the place of worship sits is artificial and contains one of the best examples of a funerary passage in Europe.
The dolmen was a pinnacle of the Neolithic community that lived here some 6,000 years ago, so the site offers a fascinating insight into an ancient way of life. There’s also an archeology museum to explore, where you can see everything from a locally found woolly rhinoceros skull to bronze weapons and ancient coins.
Nearby is a command bunker that was built by the Germans during World War II and inside you can see the monument left to the island’s inhabitants and others who were forced to work as slaves to build the German network of defences, including the Jersey War Tunnels.