Located in the English Channel, Guernsey is an island dependent on England. The name given to this territory would come from the Vikings, who colonized the island in the Middle Ages. Guernsey sheltered and inspired Victor Hugo during his fifteen years in exile.

Number of inhabitants : The population of Guernsey is approximately 65,068 (2011 estimate).
History
In the 6th century, the Bretons occupied the island. Guernsey became part of the Kingdom of Brittany in the 9th century, until the invasion of the island by the Vikings. In 933 Guillaume 1st Long-Sword, Duke of Normandy, holds the Cotentin and the Channel Islands. It was in 1204 that Philippe Auguste seized continental Normandy. The King of England owns the Channel Islands. A rivalry then settles between France and England. The French army occupied the island of Guernsey in 1338. Marguerite d'Anjou gave Guernsey to the French in 1463. In 1481, Guernsey finally became neutral. Following his exile, Victor Hugo settled on the island in 1855. On 9 May 1945, the end of the Second World War marked the liberation of the island.

Geography
Located in the South West of England, 350 kilometres from London and some 50 kilometres to the north of France, the island of Guernsey covers an area of 78 square metres. It consists mainly of grasslands and woods inland, cliffs to the south and bays to the north.

How to get around town?
The city of Guernsey offers buses and taxis as modes of transport. Bus: Guernsey's tourist bus network is very well developed, allowing visitors to move easily around the island. Taxi: Many private companies operate on the island and provide passenger transport.

What to see?
Guernsey has sumptuous sites to see. Visitors will mainly visit the Pleinmont Observation Tower, Victor Hugo's house, Sausmarez Manor, Vale Castle, Museum of Costume and Popular Traditions, German Occupation Museum and Oatlands Village. Sites like The Little Chapel (one of the smallest churches in the world built in 1914), the German cannons at Fort Hommet, the Telephone Museum, the German Underground Military Hospital, the Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery and the Guernsey Aquarium are worth a visit. To rest or observe nature, stroll in the gardens of the island: the Guernsey Freesia Centre, the Gardens of Candie, Castle Cornet and Victor Hugo. Guernsey Tourist Office website

What to do?
Stroll along the hiking trails across the island. Spend an afternoon at the Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery. Stroll in Victor Hugo's garden. Go have a drink in an English pub.

Shopping?
To go shopping, go to the city centre of Saint Peter Port which is full of various and varied shops. For antique lovers, you have to go to the old town to, who knows, find the rare pearl.

Gastronomy and local recipe(s)
Dishes: Seafood. Desserts: La Gâche (grape brioche).

What to see in the region?
Around Guernsey, various tourist sites are to be seen. Jersey with Mont Orgueil Castle, Elizabeth Castle, Saint Brelade Bay, St Aubins Harbour, Green Lanes, Saint Ouen Bay; Alderney with its church and white sand bays.