New Jerysey

New Jerysey

When you book a holiday to the Channel Islands you have a unique opportunity to develop a deeper insight of Jersey’s history – and you may be surprised at how fascinating it is.

From its time under the governorship of Sir Walter Raleigh to the refuge it offered Charles II during the English Civil War, there are some extremely noteworthy dates in the island’s past.

However, perhaps the most compelling period was World War II, as you will discover if you take a trip down the Occupation Trail.

In 1940, the Nazi forces invaded and began to carry out Hitler’s ambitions of transforming the island into an impenetrable fortress as part of his Atlantikwall project.

It was to be five long years before Jersey’s liberation and during this time the Germans ordered bunkers, tunnels and lookout posts to be built, all with the intention of protecting the location from a possible attack by the Allies.

Around ten per cent of the total materials dedicated to the Atlantikwall project – a huge line of defence on the north European coast – were sent to Jersey and foreign labour was used to construct the many fortifications.

A large number of these people were forced to carry out these tasks without pay and more than 100 died during this time.

The Occupation Trail takes you right the way around the island, so is certain to give you a deep understanding of just how much Jersey was transformed during the war.

Indeed, it does not matter where your accommodation is based as there will be some evidence of this period within an easy distance from you, and because the destination measures just nine miles by five, you may wish to challenge yourself to see all these landmarks.

Sections of the trail are perfect for walking, although you can also take your car or local buses if you want to explore further afield.

In order to ensure you don’t miss anywhere out, you can download a map and guide from the Jersey tourism website, which will help to provide you with more information about each of the sites you visit.

Perhaps the best place to start is the capital of St Helier, itself the base of several interesting monuments to World War II, including the Occupation Tapestry at the Maritime Museum and the Monument to Freedom in Liberation Square.

One of the most famous spots is the Jersey War Tunnels in St Lawrence. Dug deep into the ground, the structures began life as munitions barracks that would be able to withstand a bomb, before being converted into somewhere for German casualties to be treated.

You can see an exhibition while you are here that provides an insight into what it was like to live in Jersey during this period of conflict by reading about the experiences of some of the local people who did.

Elizabeth Castle in St Aubin’s Bay is also featured on the trail. Built by the Tudors as a stronghold, the defence capabilities of the structure were quickly recognised by the Nazis, who added to the historic building with a fire control tower and free-standing bunker.

Other places of interest include the Turbot bunker at St Catherine, the observation towers on Mont Orgueil Castle and the Lothringen Battery at Noirmont Point.

By the time you reach the end of the trail, you are sure to have developed far more knowledge of life during Jersey’s occupation.