La Hague, Cape and peninsula in Normandy, France
La Hague is a cape and peninsula at the western tip of the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, France, where the land meets the English Channel. The coastline is made up of rocky cliffs and open fields shaped by the wind, with the Raz Blanchard strait running just offshore.
The cape has long been a key point in the maritime history of Normandy, as the strong currents of the Raz Blanchard made the passage dangerous for ships. The Goury lighthouse was built in the 19th century to help guide vessels safely through these waters.
In Goury, a small village at the tip of the cape, a narrow road leads straight to the lighthouse standing on a rocky islet just offshore. The port still works as a fishing spot, keeping old coastal habits alive in an otherwise remote corner of Normandy.
The cape is open all year and the GR223 coastal trail offers walking routes along the cliffs. Wind and weather can change quickly here, so it is worth checking conditions before heading to the clifftops.
The wreck of the French submarine Vendémiaire, which sank in 1912 after a collision during military exercises, still lies on the seafloor of the Raz Blanchard. The currents were too strong to ever raise it, and a monument on the cliffs of Jobourg marks the spot in memory of the crew.
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