Stonehenge, Newgrange and now La Hougue Bie. La Huge Bie is the oldest manmade structure I’ve so far seen. Older than the other two by over 1000 years. It is a Neolithic ritual site which was in use around 3500 BC. In Western Europe, it is one of the largest and best preserved passage graves and the most impressive and best preserved monument of Armorican Passage Grave group. (Wikipedia).
It turned out that there is a lot to take in at this site. Not only the old burial chamber but on top of the mound ( Hougue is the Norman word for mound) are chapels from the 12th & 16th century. Adjacent to La Hougue Bie is an underground prison used by Nazis in WWII.
I started with the burial chamber itself noting, to my joy, I was the only person there. All to myself is the best way, although rarest way, to see history.
The entrance is less than 1.5 m high so glad I’m still able to duckwalk.
Looking out from the interior
Come inside with me but only if you’re not claustrophobic !
Now the chapels. Not much going on due to renovations
The underground prison is now set up as a memorial for those who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazi oppressors. The signs displaying the words of the prisoners tell the story better than I can. Most of the prisoners were not residents of Jersey but rather were prisoners sent from German prison camps to be used as disposable labor.
I’ve gotten directions to Mont Orgueil (Mount Pride) Castle overlooking the harbor of Gorey. A nice day and roads with a 15 mph speed limit begged a walk
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