General Information on main visitor sites
Mont Orgueil Castle – Gorey Pier, St Martin
A medieval stronghold which dominates the east coast and has protected the Islanders from the
time of King John in the early 13th century, having undergone £4m extensive repair, access to
and throughout the castle has been improved in a radical as well as physical sense – the wide
range of interpretative displays and exhibits is designed to increase opportunities for learning
and understanding at all levels. www.jerseyheritagetrust.org
Elizabeth Castle - St Aubin’s Bay
Walk across St Aubin's Bay to the Castle along a causeway at low tide or take the Castle ferry
service (additional charge), which operates from the West Park slipway. Built on a rocky islet in
the 1590's, the Castle was named after Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Walter Raleigh whilst he was
Governor of Jersey. Visit the exhibitions which explain the role of the Castle in Jersey's history.
The Hermitage, a small chapel, has been a holy place since the 12th century and is dedicated to
the saint from whom the town St Helier takes its name. www.jerseyheritagetrust.org
Jersey Museum - St Helier
Opened in 1992 after a £3.8 million investment, the Jersey Museum was voted "Britain's most
outstanding new tourist attraction" by the British Guild of Travel Writers. Winner of the National
Heritage IBM Museum of the Year Award 1993-94, the Jersey Museum is the place to find the
real traditions, culture and history of the Island through original objects and the latest
technology. The 'Story of Jersey' brings together the Island's most important collections in a
striking exhibition including the re-creation of the 250,000 year old La Cotte archaeological site
and interactive computer programmes. Explore the perfectly restored Victorian Merchant’s
House with traditional gas lamps and period furniture. A purpose-built exhibition gallery brings a
full programme of special interest exhibitions to the public. HYPERLINK
"http://www.jerseyheritagetrust.org" www.jerseyheritagetrust.org
Maritime Museum – St Helier
Jersey’s Maritime Museum opened to the public in July 1997. The Museum is situated in a
converted 19th century granite warehouse, adjacent to the yacht marina and near the Jersey
Museum. Discover Jersey’s maritime past in this uniquely interactive museum where you can
see, touch and hear and even smell the exhibits. Through interactive exhibits you can feel the
force of a gale, understand the tides and learn how to design and float a ship. The story of
Jersey people’s ability to find new ways in which to adapt to the opportunities presented by the
sea, runs as the central theme of the Museum. Designed as an interactive, hands-on museum,
it has a strong family focus. www.jerseyheritagetrust.org
Occupation Tapestry Gallery - St Helier
This converted 19th century warehouse on the New North Quay adjacent to Liberation Square
is the permanent home of the highly acclaimed Occupation Tapestry. The tapestry consists of
twelve two-metre panels and tells the story of the occupation of Jersey during WWII. Each of
the twelve parishes took responsibility for stitching one panel, making it the largest community
arts project ever undertaken in the Island to mark the 50th anniversary of the Island’s liberation
from five years of wartime occupation by the German armed forces. As well as the tapestry, the
gallery houses an exhibition of occupation art and there is also an audio-visual presentation,
multi-lingual audio interpretations and a shop.
Central Market & Fish Market - St Helier
Jersey produce is justly famed and how better to see it than in the colourful displays in St
Helier's Central Market. At the junction of Beresford Street and Halkett Place, the ornate
Victorian building has a glass roof supported by gaily decorated iron pillars and a central tiered
fountain, complete with lush plants and a goldfish pool. The fish market is in Beresford Street
nearby; a morning visit is best to see all the locally caught "fruits of the sea".
La Hougue Bie - St Saviour
Described as "one of Europe's finest prehistoric monuments", this remarkable site is dominated
by the massive burial mound dating from 3800BC. Enter the Neolithic passage grave and walk
up to the two Medieval chapels to see why this place has been a focal point for religion in the
Island for nearly 6,000 years. A World War II German underground command bunker on the
site houses a memorial dedicated to the memory of slave workers in the Channel Islands during
the Occupation. Also in the grounds are the archaeology and geology galleries filled with
unique specimens and spectacular artefacts. www.jerseyheritagetrust.org
Hamptonne Country Life Museum – St Lawrence.
Jersey's Country Life Museum captures the rural spirit of the Island. In the heart of the
countryside you will find a Medieval dwelling, a 17th century home, an early 19th century
farmhouse and a host of Victorian outbuildings where people have lived for more than six
centuries. They have been brought back to life through painstaking restoration using traditional
crafts. Explore the orchard and learn about bygone crafts and quirky traditions and see the
working cider presses and apple crusher, or just wander through the valley at your leisure.
www.jerseyheritagetrust.org
Durrell Wildlife Park – Trinity
Visited every year by hundreds of thousands of people eager to share a very special
experience, Durrell is the unique sanctuary and breeding centre founded in 1959 by author and
broadcaster Gerald Durrell. The headquarters of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust,
established in 1963, it is a world-wide organisation dedicated to saving animals from extinction.
Here in the 32 acres of beautiful parkland and water gardens, visitors can enjoy the family life of
a remarkable collection of exotic creatures, some of them so rare that they are only to be found
here in Jersey.
Award-winning enclosures provide natural environments for family groups of animals.
Conservationists work closely with mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians to better
understand what is required to ensure they survive in their natural habitats. This information is
shared with colleagues working with these animals in the wild. www.durrell.org
Jersey War Tunnels (Höhlgangsanlage 8) - St Lawrence
An underground complex that is Jersey's most evocative museum of the five years of enemy
occupation during World War II Between October 1941 and January 1944, thousands of forced
labourers from all over conquered Europe, working under the harshest conditions, created an
amazing construction of more than a kilometre of chambers and corridors hewn from the solid
rock and immune to attack by land or from the air.
The exhibition focuses on the experiences of the inhabitants of Jersey at the time of the
occupation. There are stories from people who were actually in the islands – local folk, German
soldiers, foreign workers, taking the visitor through from pre-occupation to the Liberation.
There is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life of the war heroine Tania Szabó, a Garden
of Reflection has also been created and a £50,000 sculpture to commemorate the forced and
slave workers who worked on the tunnel complex and other fortifications during the Occupation.
Installed in 2012, there is an audiovisual exhibition within the atmospheric unfinished tunnels
and in addition a number of areas have been created throughout the tunnel space to display
artefacts on display for the very first time. These include military vehicles, local Occupation
memorabilia and documentation www.jerseywartunnels.com
Samarès Manor - St Clement
A beautiful house with extensive grounds and herb garden which have undergone extensive
replanting in recent years A Jersey rural life and museum also exists. Guided tours of the
Manor House take place daily. The Manor's herb garden is one of the largest and most
comprehensive in Europe. Its unique design can be best appreciated from the viewing platform
high above the garden, adding an extra dimension to this collection of culinary, fragrant,
cosmetic and medicinal plants. Talks are held daily. Jacob sheep, donkeys, mule, horses and
ponies can be found in surrounding fields. www.samaresmanor.com
Eric Young Orchid Foundation
Opened in 1958, the Eric Young Orchid Foundation, is widely recognised to be one of the finest
collections of orchid hybrids in the world. It is a lifetime's work of the late Eric Young, scientist
and horticulturist. The display house has computerised temperature, humidity and feed control.
It gives visitors the opportunity to view the beautiful, unique collection of exotic orchids at close
range. The foundation continues to win awards throughout the world, some of which are now on
display in the reception area. A viewing platform overlooking the glass houses, gives the visitor
the opportunity to also see the orchids in various stages of growth.
www.ericyoungorchidfoundation.co.uk
The Mansell Collection – First Tower, St Helier
Most race fans know that Nigel was F1 world champion in 1992, but there's so much more to tell
about his epic career. Upstairs from the showroom is The Story of Nigel Mansell’s battle to
become one of the world’s greatest racing drivers. Told via detailed interviews with Nigel over
the years, magnificent pictures and exciting video footage, his actual trophies and racing cars
will be on display too. And if you're lucky, you might just meet the man himself.
www.themansellcollection.co.uk
The Living Legend – St Peter
The Living Legend is a village style attraction offering a dynamic presentation of local history, a
series of exhibits reflecting Jersey's heritage and unique form of government and industry.
Along with two eighteen hole adventure golf courses and a Karting complex this makes a great
attraction for families. www.thelivinglegend.co.je
Jersey Lavender - St Brelade
Jersey's long tradition of perfume making is continued on this working farm with fields of
cultivated lavender, the distillery and bottling rooms. To allow visitors to gain a complete picture
of the farm's cycle there is a video presentation with its story of lavender through the seasons.
Harvesting takes place between June and mid August - other herbs and plants are distilled
before and after the lavender harvest. For keen plant lovers, the farm has achieved National
Collection status for its 55 species and cultivars of lavender, believed to be the largest in Britain.
www.jerseylavender.co.uk
La Mare Wine Estate – St Mary
Established in 1969 in the 12 acre grounds of an attractive 18th century Jersey granite
farmhouse, these are the first vineyards planted in the Island in recent times. Visitors can now
enjoy the property’s restaurant, The Cooperage Restaurant & Tearooms, a shop offering the
wonderful range of Black Butter, jams, preserves and delicious fudge, all handmade on the
estate, as well as a chocolate factory, wine tour and an excellent wine tasting area with windows
facing into the distillery, winery and barrel room. www.lamarewineestate.com
National Trust Wetland Centre -St Ouen's Bay
Perfectly situated overlooking St Ouen’s Pond, the Wetland Centre offers a unique perspective
for budding birdwatchers without disturbing the diverse birdlife found at La Mare au Seigneur,
which has been safeguarded by the National Trust for Jersey since 1975. Accessed by a tunnel,
through a dune mound the centre opens out to give panoramic views over the reed bed and
pond, and boasts a visitor controlled camera and reed bed cam to give visitors a previously
unseen insight into the reed’s secretive occupants such as Marsh Harrier’s nests and the
elusive Bittern. Interactive interpretation panels educate visitors about the reserve’s significance
to wildlife, and the rich history of the area, these are complimented with beautiful bird
identification panels painted by local artist Anna Le Moine Gray. A converted German personnel
bunker
provides an educational space and a green roof provides habitat for plants, small mammals,
amphibians and reptiles like the Green Lizard. www.nationaltrust.je
aMaizin! Adventure Park – St Peter
Family orientated with all activities covered by one entrance fee. aMaizin! Adventure Park is
extremely popular with families and caters for children from age 3 to adults. Many of the
activities are suitable for adults and therefore the attraction is not only suitable for children and
families but also for those "young at heart"! Also included is aMaizin! Barnyard and aMaizin!
Maze (from 01st July)
The Harbour Gallery - St Aubin
The Harbour Gallery and Creative Design Studios is the largest exhibiting and selling gallery in
the Channel Islands. It promotes the work of local artists and craft workers. With exhibiting
gallery spaces, creative design studios, artist studios, educational workspace, picture framer,
music school, wool store, sewing shop and The Gallery Café, there is always something new to
see or to try a new art or craft form and enjoy the view over St Aubin’s Harbour. Regular
workshops for adults and children are offered and the gallery hosts a number of major
exhibitions a year. Talk to working artists in their studios and enjoy the ambience of a working
gallery. www.theharbourgalleryjersey.com