Lower Normandy: evening at Carentan harbour

The spire of the church of Notre-Dame is a prominent local landmark.

The Port

Construction of today's port started in 1841: it required the creation of an approximately 1 km long sea canal and a sea lock, enclosing a basin capable of taking 600 ton ships. The port became operational in 1864.

As a result of the creation this new facility, in 1865 the Lepelletier butter factory was built in Carentan; by 1870 it was producing 3 million kgs butter. With the addition of a cheese factory in 1890, the business soon employed 400 workers, and was the biggest employer in the town.

The port enabled the Lepelletier company's flotilla of 6 small ships to carry butter to Cherbourg and Le Havre for export to England, Denmark, Brasil. The port also had regular ship services to Le Havre (carrying flour) and England (carrying eggs & butter, returning laden with coal).

The lock was destroyed as part of the German coastal defence measures in 1944; the port did not reopen until 1973, and today it is home to a marina. The port also has a replica Viking longship, which frequently travels the full length of the sea canal in hopes of plunder and mayhem.


The church will appear again in tomorrow's blip.