Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue Harbor
About Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue Harbor
Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue Harbor sits at the heart of this charming Cotentin fishing village, voted France's Favorite Village in 2019. Built between 1828-1845, the port serves as a working fishing harbor with 37 vessels, a major oyster cultivation center producing 6,500 tons annually, and a 760-berth marina. The harbor offers views of two UNESCO-listed Vauban towers: Tour de la Hougue on the mainland and Tour Tatihou on the nearby island, both constructed 1694-1699 after the naval Battle of La Hougue. Visitors can stroll along Quai Vauban, watch fishermen unload their catch, sample the famous local oysters known for their iodized flavor and hazelnut notes, or walk across the exposed seabed at low tide to reach Tatihou Island through the oyster parks. The port was the first in Manche department liberated by Allied forces on June 21, 1944.
Interesting Facts
At low tide, visitors can walk 1 kilometer across the exposed seabed to reach Tatihou Island, passing directly through active oyster parks where thousands of oyster bags are visible on metal tables. This unique crossing is only possible during specific tidal windows, making timing essential for the walk.
The name 'La Hougue' comes from the Old Norse word 'haugr' meaning mound or hillock, a linguistic remnant from when Vikings settled in Normandy over a thousand years ago. Saint Vaast refers to Saint Vedast, a 6th-century bishop.
During the 1860s golden age of the port, approximately 90 boats from Jersey would dock here seasonally, engaging in what locals called 'potato trafficking in summer and oyster fishing in winter' - an unusual cross-Channel commerce that connected the British island to this Norman coast.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Quai Vauban, 50550 Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, France
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