Its easy to see why Barfleur is a leading member of the most beatiful villages in France association. Known as the "pearl of the Saire valley", the name of the village comes from old Norse, the language of the vikings.
Today the port, which runs dry at low tide, lives according to the comings and goings of its fishing fleet, the tides and seasons. The village's natural beauty has inspired many a painter including Paul Signac. The local speciality is the "blonde de Barfleur", a kind of wild mussel.
In 1066, Duchess Mathilda had the ship "la Mora" built in Barfleur. This vessel carried her husband, William the Conqueror to the invasion and conquest of England. From then on Barfleur was the principal port of Normandy and until the middle ages all the kings of England and dukes of Normandy passed through on the way to their english possessions.
The medieval past of the town can still be found in the houses of the Cour Sainte-Catherine (15th century). The church of Saint Nicolas (17th and 19th centuries) sits upon a rocky promontory surrounded by its maritime cemetary, watching over the town. Inside the church you will find some exceptional pieces of liturgical furnishing. Behind the church there is an exellent viewpoint overlooking Barfleur and the Gatteville lighthouse.
Old houses built in grey granite with blue schist roofs line the two main streets, both of which afford wonderfully attractive lines of sight. Its worth checking out the old Augustin convent (18th c) and the Chapelle de la Bretonne with its magnificent stained glass windows.
