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Castle Cornet is built on the Isle of Guernsey which lies about 2,000' east off the coast of Guernsey, England. It is a small island about 575' x 430'. A fortification was built on the island sometime between 1206-1356. It has seen conflict in many wars and was occupied by the Germans in WWII from 1940-1945. If you are in St. Peter's Port on the Isle of Guernsey and you appreciate military history, castles, or restored period gardens, Cornet Castle is something you would like to see. Their are five museums in the castle each displaying a different theme. I liked The Maritime Museum. Additionally there are four period gardens each meticulously manicured and historically accurate. Guernsey is noted for it's love of gardening. The castle gardens feature herbs, perennials and annuals. Navigating the castle will be difficult for those with limited mobility. The castle is open daily late April to October. It cost about 9.50 pounds for adults. Guided tours are available in the morning. On selected days re-enactments are performed. Each day at noon the Napoleonic cannon is fired in true British ceremonial fashion. There are restrooms, castle shop and a cafe. Great coffee and scones.
Castle Cornet has been guarding the approach to Saint Peter Port harbour since the 13th century. The fortification was intended to protect against French attacks after Normandy passed from English control. Castle Cornet was expanded in the Elizabethan era. During the English Civil War, Castle Cornet was a bastion of Royalist authority, at odds with the citizenry of Guernsey. Castle Cornet continued to be a coastal defence fortification into the early 20th century. When Germany occupied the Channel Islands during World War II, the fortress became a German anti-aircraft battery. After the war, the fort was decommissioned and opened to the public as a museum. Today, visitors can see structures and additions representing all eras of Castle Cornet's evolution, from Norman times to World War II. There are five separate museums within the fort, each telling a different story. The main museum, The Story of Castle Cornet, traces the history and building of the castle through a series of dioramas illustrated with figures of individuals known to have been at the fort. The Maritime Museum tells the story of Guernsey's seafarers, beginning with Roman amphorae discovered in Saint Peter Port harbour. The Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum focuses on the unit's role in World War I. Other museums on site are the 201 Squadron (RAF) Museum and the Royal Guernsey Militia Museum. Visitors are able to explore the exterior ramparts, bastions and gun emplacement of Castle Cornet. Artillery pieces may be inspected. Even the concrete bunkers added by the German occupiers are on view. There are striking views across the harbour and out to sea. If you arrive by cruise ship or ferry, Castle Cornet is the first sight you will see. At Noon each day, the traditional Noonday Gun is fired. A cafe is located in the former barracks and a gift shop in the former guardhouse. Guided tours are available. Don't miss Castle Cornet when visiting Guernsey! Admission is £10.50.
One of our first stops on our trip was to Guernsey Island. It was an overcast rainy day but we wanted to see as much as we could. As we came into the port you could see a castle which looked quite old and with dark clouds over head looked foreboding. You can walk to it from the port. It is a nice walk up to the castle. The cost to enter for adults is 10.50 in Pounds. There are 5 museums within the walls and at noon there is a daily ceremony that shoots off one of the cannons overlooking the harbor. We were lucky enough to be there to view the ceremony. Some parts of the castle are from the 13th century. There are gardens to walk through and many levels to the castle. You can spend several hours walking around. There is a Cafe on-site for a warm drink on those chilly days. There is a maritime museum and an RAF museum. It is worth the visit.
2 years ago
Castle Cornet is awesome and my first true castle I've seen in person. You will always remember your first. I have seen castles before Castle Cornet, but they weren't 'real' castles. They were castles built by men of money who saw real castles and decided to replicate them in Canada and the United States because they could. They had no history, no story, no soul. But Castle Cornet? Castle Cornet has more stories then can be told in a day, a history that spans hundreds of years! Castle Cornet was a stop on a lovely tour by Princess Cruises. Our tour guide was a local man who regaled us with tales of its history. It is a solid walk to the Castle but one that is very worth it! I'm not even sure how to continue because it was a fortification that saw many hands. It served as a seat of power. It has signs of Nazi occupation. It was a bastion. It was a prison. It had a tower until it exploded. It just is cool! If you love history or love castles you need to visit Castle Cornet. It can easily consume a day. They lovingly replicated the various historical gardens. They show replicas of various cannons. We stumbled across recovered gravestone markers in this unassuming looking room that was from WWI complete with notes. Then inside the grounds are various museums that discuss Guernsey's involvement in WWI. These are touching and poignant, a grim reminder of a terrible war. It was an awesome experience. read more
6 years ago
Castle Cornet is built on the Isle of Guernsey which lies about 2,000' east off the coast of Guernsey, England. It is a small island about 575' x 430'. A fortification was built on the island sometime between 1206-1356. It has seen conflict in many wars and was occupied by the Germans in WWII from 1940-1945. If you are in St. Peter's Port on the Isle of Guernsey and you appreciate military history, castles, or restored period gardens, Cornet Castle is something you would like to see. Their are five museums in the castle each displaying a different theme. I liked The Maritime Museum. Additionally there are four period gardens each meticulously manicured and historically accurate. Guernsey is noted for it's love of gardening. The castle gardens feature herbs, perennials and annuals. Navigating the castle will be difficult for those with limited mobility. The castle is open daily late April to October. It cost about 9.50 pounds for adults. Guided tours are available in the morning. On selected days re-enactments are performed. Each day at noon the Napoleonic cannon is fired in true British ceremonial fashion. There are restrooms, castle shop and a cafe. Great coffee and scones. read more
Castle Cornet has been guarding the approach to Saint Peter Port harbour since the 13th century. The fortification was intended to protect against French attacks after Normandy passed from English control. Castle Cornet was expanded in the Elizabethan era. During the English Civil War, Castle Cornet was a bastion of Royalist authority, at odds with the citizenry of Guernsey. Castle Cornet continued to be a coastal defence fortification into the early 20th century. When Germany occupied the Channel Islands during World War II, the fortress became a German anti-aircraft battery. After the war, the fort was decommissioned and opened to the public as a museum. Today, visitors can see structures and additions representing all eras of Castle Cornet's evolution, from Norman times to World War II. There are five separate museums within the fort, each telling a different story. The main museum, The Story of Castle Cornet, traces the history and building of the castle through a series of dioramas illustrated with figures of individuals known to have been at the fort. The Maritime Museum tells the story of Guernsey's seafarers, beginning with Roman amphorae discovered in Saint Peter Port harbour. The Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum focuses on the unit's role in World War I. Other museums on site are the 201 Squadron (RAF) Museum and the Royal Guernsey Militia Museum. Visitors are able to explore the exterior ramparts, bastions and gun emplacement of Castle Cornet. Artillery pieces may be inspected. Even the concrete bunkers added by the German occupiers are on view. There are striking views across the harbour and out to sea. If you arrive by cruise ship or ferry, Castle Cornet is the first sight you will see. At Noon each day, the traditional Noonday Gun is fired. A cafe is located in the former barracks and a gift shop in the former guardhouse. Guided tours are available. Don't miss Castle Cornet when visiting Guernsey! Admission is £10.50. read more
One of our first stops on our trip was to Guernsey Island. It was an overcast rainy day but we wanted to see as much as we could. As we came into the port you could see a castle which looked quite old and with dark clouds over head looked foreboding. You can walk to it from the port. It is a nice walk up to the castle. The cost to enter for adults is 10.50 in Pounds. There are 5 museums within the walls and at noon there is a daily ceremony that shoots off one of the cannons overlooking the harbor. We were lucky enough to be there to view the ceremony. Some parts of the castle are from the 13th century. There are gardens to walk through and many levels to the castle. You can spend several hours walking around. There is a Cafe on-site for a warm drink on those chilly days. There is a maritime museum and an RAF museum. It is worth the visit. read more
Love this castle and the museums it had to offer. Most definitely one of my favourites now. The castle itself even though small was very interesting. You can see many viewing ports with great views, cannons (they even had a pink one), gardens etc. The views from the castle was outstanding over the town and the sea spectacular in fact. I also loved reading all the plagues saying what that particular room or area was used for. They also had several museums showing life on the island from beginning and ancient and modern adaptations from WWII. All museum very interesting with many different uniforms, weapons, displays of mannequins setting a scene etc. Also loved the many medals and descriptions of people that achieved the medals and history about them. You could literally spend all day there in the museums reading about the war and history of Guernsey. Well worth it. read more
