Jersey Things to Do

 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

German Unnderground Hospital

by Jasen71

The war tunnels is located in the heart of the island and in a quiet meadow. During the German Occupation of the Channel Islands 1940 - 1945 the occupation forces built many bunkers and tunnels which can still be seen to this day, but here in St Peters Valley the tunnels have been made into a museum. The tunnels always send a chill down my spine when you think that hundreds of forced labourers rounded up by the Organization Todt in France and including refugees from Spain and Morocco, and Polish and Russian prisoners of war who were treated no better than slaves and dressed in rags. These workers toiled for over twelve hours a day and fed very little, lThey worked like ants in an underground hell of dust, smoke and falling rock. Serious injury was commonplace with injured workers being pulled from the rockfaces to be replaced by more unfortunates.Open daily from mid-March until...

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Elizabeth castle

by jo104

This tip write up was done by my friend Mecheal who visited Elizabeth castle whilst Christel & I went to the Underground hospitalIt was a chilly, blustery day as I meandered along the causeway towards Elizabeth Castle. The first part of the causeway was slightly slippery, so I walked on the sand, peaking into some pools along the way, then rejoined it; taking about 15-20 min to cross. Up the stone entrance I went to pay my dues. From about 550 to 1550 this was a religious site, after which it took on a military function, the remnants of which we see today, although many alterations have taken place over the past 400-odd years (incl. German occupation influences). The remaining buildings are intact and you can explore some of them (or peak into windows). I had a wander inside the West Bastion, fairly empty now, but with rusting remains of a mounted gun and a few other unidentified bits,...

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Corbiere Lighthouse

by jo104

After the railway walk you are only a stonethrow away from the Corbiere lighthouse. If the tide is out it is a nice walk out along the causeway. Although be warned that when the tide turns it comes in & covers the causeway at incredible speed. On 28 May 1946 the assistant lighthouse keeper died attempting to rescue a visitor cut off by the incoming tide. A memorial stone with the words "Take heed, all ye that pass by" remembers this act of selflessness.The name Corbiere comes from the french word corbeau, for crow or rook which are thought to be birds of bad omen and appropriately named for the dangerous rocks that many a vessel sailed into. Only in 1873 was the 35ft high concrete lighthouse built the first concrete lighthouse in the world in fact.

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Liberation Square

by jo104

The momunument was erected in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of Jersey's Liberation from Nazi occupation. The Pomme D'Or hotel behind the statue was used as Nazi headquarters. Philip Jackson scupltured a group holding the Union Flag at the centre of a fountain. The 12 jets of water in the pool represent the 12 parishes of Jersey.

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Shell Gardens

by jo104

Colin Soudain started the shell garden for his own pleasure in 1957 so the original and oldest part of shell garden is near the hillside up the steps. Colin Soudain is now 80 years but still remains active making souvenirs for the small self service shop.We met the manager John Morgan aka "nice man" and he has been able to add to the collection and maintain its tranquail feel.This garden is the largest of its kind in the world & is a unique tourist attraction for visitors to Jersey. Jersey has won awards for having the cleanest beaches in Europe and the government invest millions of pounds each year to improve the enviroment. The shells are easy to find as there is so much coastline in Jersey so marine life is plentiful. The most used shells are Jersey Ormer also known as ear shells, the species are protected in the Channel Islands. The Emperor scallop, common cockle, moon shell & Edible...

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Jersey War tunnels Part 2

by jo104

You are given an identity card of a survivor of the occupation & once you visit the tunnels you are invited to look up that person's background in the cafe.These pics are of the lady whose identity I was given upon arrival, Christel's identity was of an elderly jewish lady who managed to avoid being transported to a concentration camp.Also included in these pictures are more of the unfinished tunnel & the operating theatre

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Royal Square

by jo104

This is where the original market once was, the market cross was destroyed at the Reformation but is thought to have stood where the statue of George II is today. King George II is dressed as a Caeser but is wearing the Order of the Garter around his thigh, this ghastly staue was placed in the square when the king donated GBP300 towards creating the original St Helier's harbour.In the Royal Square proclamations where made and public excecutions, as well as burning of witches and hanging criminals in gibets.In the square is the corn market which now is the registery office, if you look carefully by this building you will see the words VEGA + 1945 in the paving stones. Originally the V for Victory was secretly cut by the local stonemason & as it was a dangerous thing to do with the Nazi occupation he hid it with a layer of sand. The following letters EGA & 1945 were added after the...

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Jersey war tunnels

by jo104

This massive network of tunnels was made out of solid rock by using hand tools and gun powder by thousands of forced labourers and Russian prisoners of war. The tunnels were planned for ammunition storage & as a bomb proof barracks for around 12,000 men. The tunnels at meadowridge was to link up with a gun park in the next valley Cap Verd, but with D-Day moving closer & the tunnels still not completed the tunnels was turned into a german hospital receiving casualty station with 5 wards each designed to cope with 100 casualties. Unfinished tunnels were closed off & it was equipped with an operating theatre, recovery room, hospital wards as well as staff quarters. Jersey was never invaded by the allied troops so the tunnel's original purpose was in vain as the surrendered peacefully on 9 May 1945.The tunnels exhibitions are set out in date order and show what life was like for the Jersey...

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Railway Walk

by jo104

This railway used to link St Helier with St Aubin & was extended to Corbiere in 1884 but due to competition from efficient busses & subsequent fire at St Aubins station the route closed in 1936.The walk is a fairly gentle 4 mile (6km) walk, the track has been covered over but the path is clearly demarcated and trees line the path offering shelter from the elements, although we still got pretty soaked. The walk starts in St Aubins and finishes by the Corbiere lighthouse, we started our journey after visiting Shell house where the nice man put us onto the path thus cutting off the first part of the walk.

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The Glass Church

by jo104

St Matthews church offers the unique opportunity to see the work of Parisian Rene Lalique with its moulded white glass. There is lily motifs in the moulded glass which symbolises purity and can be seen throughout the church. The communion table is made of frosted glass to give the appearance of stone whilst behind it stands the cross 4 metres high displaying Madonna lillies. As you leave the church admire the angels set in the main oak door panels, which are some 15cm thick, the chip two thirds of the way down is said to have been caused by a Nazi gun being flung against it during a street fiasco.The church was first consecrated in 1840 as a chapel of ease, so residents of the Millbrook area would no loger need to travel up the hill to the Parish church of St Lawrence. The Lalique glass was only installed in 1934. The Refurbishment of the interior with the Lalique glass was done in...

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Questions and Answers

cferrendelli profile photo

Q:  We are planning a trip to Jersey in October (probably staying at Merton) and plan on staying for a week. Is that two long with... 

pfsmalo profile photo

A: Hi, Plenty to do on the island with Jersey Zoo, German hospital and lots of forts to explore. For day trips, the easiest is Guernsey and Sark. You also have trips to... 

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