I already knew the town of Granville, as I had passed through there a few years ago when I went to visit Mont-Saint-Michel, if you remember (my article on the subject just here). This lovely port city located in the Manche department in Normandy is a beautiful destination for a short seaside weekend. Its history is rich, having been a citadel, then a corsair city, a departure port for the Newfoundland Grand Banks fishing fleet, and also a seaside resort at the end of the 19th century. Granville is also located in the heart of the Mont-Saint-Michel bay, an hour’s drive from Rennes and Caen.
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The Intercités Paris-Granville line
Getting to Granville from Paris is really easy, as you just need to go to Paris Montparnasse Station to catch the Intercités Paris-Granville train, which allows you to make the journey directly, without changing trains.
The tip: Since the beginning of November 2016, Intercités has developed a new feature on the SNCF app to allow travelers to view unreserved seats on board trains. This tool helps avoid changing seats (always unpleasant) during a trip, and thus ensures that customers who have booked their seats can use them without complications.
In addition (a happy coincidence), I was also recently able to test the new catering menu on board Intercités trains, developed in collaboration with Mercotte, and the products are really of very high quality! Far from the bad image we might still have of SNCF sandwiches. Plus, what’s nice is that you can even book your meal online (up to 8 PM the day before your trip) and have it delivered to your seat on 6 Intercités lines for now (though not on the Paris-Granville line, unfortunately…).
Journey time: between 3h and 3h30 depending on the train
Rates: prem’s tickets from €20 / average price between €30 and €50 in 2nd class
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Discovering the town of Granville
The best way to discover Granville is to wander on foot through the pretty narrow streets of the city, both in the lower and upper parts of the town, which is located on a rocky headland overlooking the sea from a height of more than 40 meters and still retains its fortifications.
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Take a guided tour with the Granville Terre et Mer Tourist Office
To discover the city in the best way and benefit from some historical and cultural information, I advise you to look at the guided tours organized by the Granville Terre et Mer Tourist Office on their website. For our part, we followed a fascinating tour that took us to the upper part of the city and also into the very beautiful church of Notre-Dame du Cap Lihou (1441 – 1786) which protects sailors. We were also lucky enough to climb to the very top of the church, which gave us an incredible view of the city and the sea, but also to see the priest ringing the bells (a great moment!).
Tour prices: €5 / adult, €4 / child under 12, free for children under 3
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I also highly recommend taking a little walk along the beach and the Plat Gousset promenade to enjoy the charm of the Normandy coast. Also, go see the Casino, inaugurated in 1911, which is quite an iconic monument of the town.
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Ideas of things to do during a getaway in Granville
As usual, I offer you a small selection of ideas for outings, visits, in short, things to do (generally everything is accessible on foot) to discover the destination.
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The Christian Dior Museum and gardens
If you are passing through Granville, you absolutely must visit the Christian Dior Museum and its gardens in the heart of the couturier’s childhood home, the villa Les Rhumbs, beautifully situated slightly above the sea and facing the Chausey Islands archipelago. While walking in the villa’s magnificent gardens, you can also admire the famous Granville Rose. This memorial site dating from the early 20th century is today dedicated to promoting the life and work of the artist.
The venue also offers temporary exhibitions that change regularly. The current exhibition, titled “Christian Dior and Granville, at the sources of the legend” (of which I show you some photos below), will last until January 7, 2018, as part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the fashion house.
The tip: the museum is fee-based, but the villa’s superb gardens are accessible for free!
Christian Dior Museum Villa Les Rhumbs 1, rue d'Estouville Rates: €8 / €4 Open every day from 2 PM to 5:30 PM during school holidays and from Wednesday to Sunday the rest of the time
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Take a tour of the many art galleries and studios in Granville
The majority of these art galleries and studios are actually located along the rue des Juifs, so it is very easy to plan a little walking tour through these places. Another interesting piece of information: they regularly open their doors during events organized by the Le Fil Rouge collective. Examples of some artists you will find in Granville: Chabert 4; Xavier Hortala; Véronique Texier; …
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Go for a Segway ride with Pascal
I admit that I had always looked with a slightly mocking eye at people getting around on a Segway… But I assure you that after having tested a discovery ride on these machines, you will no longer see them in the same way… Before the ride, you will obviously be entitled to a short training session, but finally, even with some apprehensions, handling the vehicle is quite easy.
Verdict: the experience is super fun and it’s actually quite physical, I even had a few little muscle aches the next day…
Best Ride Gyropode Normandy tel: 07 71 89 30 49 info@bestride.fr Rate for a ride: €35
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My top addresses in Granville
As usual, I have made a small selection of gastronomic addresses (but not only that, there are also some shopping addresses for once), tested during this short stay in Granville.
Eat a plate of shellfish and crustaceans by the seaside
To accomplish this noble task, I recommend the Au Petit Mareyeur fishmonger, which obviously offers first-rate fresh products, but also a small terrace area in the sun to best enjoy your tasting. To be sure to taste local products, I advise you to take the Granville Plate, which consists of oysters, clams, whelks, and Chausey shrimp (these are small shrimps that are absolutely delicious!).
Au Petit Mareyeur 64 rue du Port50 400 Granville open continuously from 8 AM to 7:30 PM 7 days a week, tasting at any time Set menu: 12 oysters + a glass of wine = €13
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Dame Gourmande
This very lovely tea room located in the city center is a good address where one can also have lunch at noon, especially on the establishment’s small terrace if the weather is nice!
Dame Gourmande 2 rue du Général Patton 50400 Granville To taste: the small Paris – Granville financiers Price: lunch sets at €9 / €11 / €13.50
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A La Tentation by Laurent Z
A very nice pastry and chocolate shop where you can taste and bring back two of the town’s gourmet specialties: the whelks (a praline) and the clams (a vanilla caramel) in Granville chocolate! I even gave away a small bag of them on my Instagram account via a contest if you follow me on this social network…
A La Tentation 28, rue Paul Poirier 50400 Granville
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Le Comptoir de l’atelier gourmet
A nice restaurant to have a semi-gastronomic lunch or dinner with quality products. As a starter, I had the fresh goat cheese finger, smoked duck breast, and figs (€7.50), as a main course the pollock fillet with asparagus risotto and a shellfish velouté (€16), and for dessert the Paris-Granville all caramel (a bit too caramel for me, I admit) with salted butter (€7.50).
Le Comptoir de l’atelier gourmet
13 avenue Aristide Briand 50400 Granville
Tel.: 02 14 13 64 32
Reservation recommended
Price: evening menu at €27 with starter + main course + dessert_
2 addresses to do a little shopping in Granville
In terms of shopping, I suggest two completely different addresses with La Kolloc (29 rue Lecampion 50400 Granville) which offers clothes from small designers and L’Ilot Lamp’ (61 rue du port 50400 Granville), a pretty decor and gift idea boutique that offers beautiful objects with a very Norman style.
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Where to stay? The Mercure Granville Le Grand Large hotel
During this short stay, we spent the night at the Mercure Granville Le Grand Large hotel, which is wonderfully located facing the sea, which is quite very pleasant, especially in the morning when you have your breakfast facing this large expanse of saltwater (I love it!).
Mercure Granville Le Grand Large Hotel 5 rue de la Falaise 50400 Granville Rates: Room prices between €72 and €104 in low season / breakfast buffet at €16 per person
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Thanks to Intercités and the town of Granville for this invitation and this welcome!
I hope that with all this I have made you want to discover Granville, and if you also have your own good addresses and advice for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Find below all my articles on the Normandy region:
⇒ All my articles on Normandy
MY ARTICLES ON THE DEPARTMENTS OF NORMANDY
⇒ The Orne
⇒ The Seine Maritime
⇒ The Eure
⇒ The Calvados
⇒ The Manche
Photo credits: Melle Bon Plan (photos taken with the Kodak PixPro AZ526) Photos not royalty-free, authorization from the photographer required before any use
