ANCIENS MOULINS À VENT DE BESNEVILLE

Le Mont de Besneville is a hill 116 meters above sea level offering a breathtaking panorama of the countryside and the coast.  This was the second stop on the trip I took with the AVF Cherbourg group on October 9th.  There is a road leading to the summit and several footpaths for those hiking to the top.  In the midst of the heather and gorse, le mont has the distinction of being topped by three old windmills.  Two of the three mills have been transformed.  A large Calvary surmounts the largest.  Inside there is a quaint little chapel with an oratory, which was blessed on August 13, 1950 by Monsignor Guyot, bishop of Coutances and Avranches from 1950 to 1966.  The chapel was created by local parishioners who wished to express their gratitude to God for protecting them during the liberation of June 1944.  Several meters away a viewing platform with an orientation table was built on top of another mill.  It is easily accessed by a staircase with an iron railing inside the mill.  Here, the visitor is offered a fantastic view of the countryside, the coast with glimpses of the Channel Islands as well as the Ouve Valley.  The third windmill is in ruins and its interior is covered with vines.  I thought it was pretty cool that I took the same image that was captured practically a century ago on this postcard.  On sunny days, the sunsets viewed from this hill are said to be marvellous.  Sadly for me, it was a cold and windy day—no chance to catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset.  I hope to visit again someday.