WEEKENDER JERSEY


A true cultural crossroads, the largest of the Channel Islands offers a packed weekend escape, with


coastal walks, colourful festivals and a thriving food scene. Words: Antonia Windsor


I


t’s no surprise that the southernmost outpost of the British Isles has a Gallic feel. Just 14 miles from France, and historically


part of the Duchy of Normandy, this little island has fiercely retained its French heritage — something glimpsed in its road signs, cideries, petanque clubs and even its own language, Jèrriais. But while Jersey’s French connection is


well-known, it’s not the only foreign influence firmly established on the island. The Portuguese — notably the Madeirans — have been coming to Jersey since the 1930s to work in agriculture and tourism, and now make up around 10% of the island’s 100,000 residents. Wander the pretty, bunting-clad streets of the capital, St Helier, and you’ll find nods to the country in the Rue de Funchal (named


aſter Madeira’s capital), as well as a raſt of Portuguese restaurants and cafes. It’s this intriguing, vibrant mix of cultures — stirred in with Jersey’s own wealth of traditions — that makes it a cosmopolitan place to be. Stray beyond the cafes and bakeries,


however, and the island’s bucolic charms unfurl: a rolling green landscape threaded by quiet country lanes, nature reserves and pristine beaches beloved by surfers. There are ancient sites dotted across the island, too, and a calendar of quirky festivals celebrates everything from cider-making to the written word. It’s food-lovers who are perhaps most spoiled for choice here, with a trio of Michelin-endorsed restaurants, and local producers working both land and sea to preserve the island’s distinct food heritage.


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nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel


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