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A picturesque point of arrival to France, Cherbourg has long greeted visitors to its shores.

As the home of the largest manmade harbour in the world and the former castoff point to America, the city is inseparable from its nautical heritage. Poised on the tip of the Cotentin Peninsula, Cherbourg carries a warm small-town atmosphere with its pedestrian streets and boutique shops.

After waving goodbye to the departing passenger ferries, pick up your car and explore the nearby Normandy beaches and rugged costal cliffs. A road trip further into Brittany will delight with quaint French villages and undulating valleys.

The lively and exuberant fishing port of Cherbourg is both a landing point for numerous ferries from Britain and Ireland, and a charming little city in its own right. The maritime atmosphere and bustling centre of Cherbourg makes it a great place to spend a few nights before renting a car and heading further into Brittany and France. Cherbourg's love affair with the ocean leads to its numerous nautical events, from the Europe's Race to the Mondial Assistance Challenge. The artist Yann Kersalé has created a special flood-lighting of the piers: the light effects range from the blue of high tide to the green of low tide, and include a palette of more than 400 colours. In the town itself, there are some serene and picturesque gardens, including the Montebello and the Public Gardens, ideal for picnics or a peaceful stroll.

Cherbourg: Discover more

Previously the gateway to the American continent during the transatlantic epic times, Cherbourg is now an ideal start point for exploring Brittany. Hire a car and you could tour further in to the rugged, stunning landscape of this northern French province, stopping off at friendly fishing villages and towns along the way.