2022 - September - Jersey

As the last stop of our island-hopping vacation in the Channel Islands, we have now landed on the largest and most populous island of Jersey. Here too, you will find a lot of history and different cultural influences from the past.

For example, here on Jersey, where English is spoken, I noticed the many French street names. How did this come about? That is historically interesting and of course also has to do with the proximity to France.

Writing the complete history of the island would be too elaborate for this article. That's why I touch on some things here, but only in brief form:

Due to the rising sea level, Guernsey, Sark, and Herm (about 10,000 years ago) initially became islands, and later also Jersey (about 6,000 years ago). There was a land connection to present-day France before, but the geographical proximity still exists.

Later, the raids of the Normans on Western Europe left clear traces. That is why the name of the French region Normandy is also due to the Vikings (Normans).

All of this resulted in a Norman-French language that was also spoken in the Channel Islands.

However, the Channel Islands have been in the possession of the English crown since 1066, but the Anglicization of the islands only took place through the settlement of English people from around 1800 onwards.

Despite the fact that they have long been part of the kingdom, the Channel Islands have had and still have a special status. Sometimes they were too far away from the political events, sometimes highly sought after because of their location.

For example, Jersey was a smuggling hotspot. The economic embargoes imposed by Napoleon on England were simply bypassed via Jersey.

But the French also harbored desires for the Channel Islands. The Martello Towers (fortified towers) that can still be seen in many places today were built on the coast for this reason. I already mentioned them in my report about Guernsey.

Strategically located near France and England, the Channel Islands have also been of military importance in recent history. Therefore, I will report separately about the Jersey War Tunnels, a museum that tells the story of the German occupation of the island during World War II.

That's enough of the history, which is of course very interesting. But vacationers especially appreciate the nature, the many beaches, and the mild climate here. Maybe my pictures can give you an idea of that.

I also enjoyed the walks on the island. On Jersey, there are special 'Green Lanes' for this, which are roads where hikers and cyclists have priority (or should have). Nevertheless, I remain cautious because cars are stronger than we are.

I also have an extra tip for nature lovers: The Portelet Common Nature Reserve. We really liked it here. In early autumn, you can even see the purple blooming heather with a great view of the coast.

And one more thing surprised us very positively: the always friendly nature of the islanders! Everyone is always nice to each other. We were even helped out with money in small emergencies (the card didn't work on the bus and a stranger paid for our shopping in the store).

So, have you already packed your suitcases because of your travel hunger? Your response, as well as various inquiries about my photos, show me your interest. Now I can only encourage you to come here yourself. It's worth it!

P.S .: Just like in Great Britain now, you need a passport to travel to the Channel Islands.

For further reading: 

https://vakantio.de/reisetante/2022-september-jersey-war-tunnels?published=1