The Channel Island of Jersey in the United Kingdom is rich in both its soil and its history. A 9-by-5-mile patch of land that sits just off the coast of France but bears loyalty to the Crown, Jersey has long been a desirable place to live, visit, and own. From its hedge-lined country roads to its 40-foot tides, sand dunes, and rocky beaches, to the rich ice cream made with milk from the Jersey cows that graze peacefully in fields, it is difficult to find an inch on Jersey that is not beautiful.
The island, though peaceful and serene today, harbors a turbulent past of other countries vying for its land. The ownership of Jersey was passed back and forth among nations for centuries, so that if you put your ear to the ground, you can almost hear the hurried footsteps of the Vikings, the victory calls of King John’s men in 1204, the eerie hush brought over by Nazi Germany in 1940. Castles and bunkers dot the island as reminders of their history. This month, Jersey will celebrate its most recent return to English hands: the 75th anniversary of the Allied Liberation from Nazi Germany.
