Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Maritime commune in Normandy, France
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is a maritime commune in Normandy that stretches along the coast of the English Channel. The urban area includes several former town centers and extends from the harbor to residential neighborhoods on gentle hills inland.
The current commune was formed on the first of January 2016 by merging five municipalities on the northern coast of the peninsula. This union was intended to simplify the administration of the entire metropolitan area and coordinate the development of the harbor zone.
The name Cotentin refers to the entire peninsula and connects the town to the maritime tradition of this Breton coastal region. Walking through the streets, you notice many cafés and restaurants serving seafood prepared according to local recipes.
The town covers a large area, so a walk from the harbor district to the outskirts can take several hours. Public transport connects the different former town centers and makes it easier to move around the entire urban area.
The Thomas Henry Museum preserves a surprising collection of paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries donated to the town by a benefactor. This collection includes works by Flemish and Italian masters that you might not expect to find in a harbor town of this size.
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