Carentan

Carentan, renamed Carentan-les-Marais in 2016, is a town in the Manche department of Normandy, at the heart of the Cotentin peninsula. Linked to the sea by canal, it has a marina popular with boaters cruising between inland waterways and the Channel coast. The town lies within the Regional Natural Park of the Cotentin and Bessin Marshes, a wetland area well suited to walking and cycling as well as birdwatching. The Monday market, held under the historic covered halls, remains a local fixture for Normandy produce, particularly dairy goods, given the area's proximity to the butter and cream production centred around Isigny. Carentan also holds a notable place in Second World War history: the town was a key objective during the fighting that followed the June 1944 landings, owing to its position between the Utah Beach and Omaha Beach sectors. This wartime past continues to draw visitors interested in military history, with the D-Day beaches and memorial sites of the Cotentin nearby. The Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, in the town centre, reflects the area's religious heritage.