Statue in St Helier's 'Liberation Square'
Jersey is the southernmost part
of the British Isles, being one of the 'Channel islands'. It lies at apporx
latitude 49.20N, and east of the Cherbourg Peninsula
It is a popular holiday destination, with its sandy beaches, sunny (for the British Isles) climate, its natural beauty, and its unique blend of being British and yet with a 'foreign' feel.
Today it is readily accesible from the UK, with flights from a wide range of airports and ferry sevices from the south coast of the UK.
Jersey has owned allegiance to the Brtish Crown since the early 13th Century, although it has always mainatained independance from the UK parliament, having its own constitution.
Its main town, and capital, is St Helier, a busy port and business centre on the south coast of the island- outside of which Jersey is largely rural. It has an extensive coastline, with cliffs on the north coast, a rocky, Atlantic-washed west coast and sandy beaches on the east and south.
It is 'British' in that English is the official language, the currency is £sterling- but it issues its own currency, although visitors can spend their English money. Cars drive on the left hand side of the road. It issues its own stamps, but the telephone network is part of BT.
It owes its 'foreign' feel in part to the fact that place and street names are in French, the buildings refect a continaantal influence, as does its cuisine.
The Channel Islands were the only part of Britain to suffer German occupation in the Second World War (witness the many 'Martello' towers and other coastal defences), and celebrated its liberation at the end of the war.
It is a popular holiday destination, with its sandy beaches, sunny (for the British Isles) climate, its natural beauty, and its unique blend of being British and yet with a 'foreign' feel.
Today it is readily accesible from the UK, with flights from a wide range of airports and ferry sevices from the south coast of the UK.
Jersey has owned allegiance to the Brtish Crown since the early 13th Century, although it has always mainatained independance from the UK parliament, having its own constitution.
Its main town, and capital, is St Helier, a busy port and business centre on the south coast of the island- outside of which Jersey is largely rural. It has an extensive coastline, with cliffs on the north coast, a rocky, Atlantic-washed west coast and sandy beaches on the east and south.
It is 'British' in that English is the official language, the currency is £sterling- but it issues its own currency, although visitors can spend their English money. Cars drive on the left hand side of the road. It issues its own stamps, but the telephone network is part of BT.
It owes its 'foreign' feel in part to the fact that place and street names are in French, the buildings refect a continaantal influence, as does its cuisine.
The Channel Islands were the only part of Britain to suffer German occupation in the Second World War (witness the many 'Martello' towers and other coastal defences), and celebrated its liberation at the end of the war.