Please note the Archaeological gallery and Coin Hoard Exhibition are currently closed due to the refurbishment of the exhibitions and buildings.
However, the Coin Hoard exhibition is currently being relocated to Jersey Museum and will be available to view in the near future.
The Tomb, Neolithic Longhouse , Slave Workers Memorial , Chapels and Tea Rooms are all open as normal.
Please enjoy your visit.
Free admission to children under 6 years old
PRE-BOOKING
There is no requirement to book if your group is below 6+ Adults / Seniors
. 15% Group Booking discount is applicable to pre booked groups of 6+ or more Adults or Seniors (or combination of)
DISCOUNTS
15% discount for pre booked groups of 6 or more adults or seniors. Please book in advance here
10% discount for non pre booked groups of 6 or more adults or seniors (at VSA discretion)
Students and children no group booking discount
Jersey Heritage welcomes the following Reciprocal Agreements:
- Museums Association Members
- International Council of Museums (ICOM) members
- Alderney Society / Museum ticket holders
- Friends of Manx National Heritage
- Réseau des Musées de Normandie – Muséopass Card
Our disabled visitors pay the normal admission rate and we are happy to offer free admission for up to two carers.
Unlimited access to 4 must see attractions for the price of 3
INFORMATION FOR VISITORS – COVID-19
As part of the Government of Jersey’s contact tracing measures, you will be asked to provide a name and telephone number. This information will be used if it is later discovered that a visitor or staff member on that day had COVID-19. All records will be used only for this purpose and will be destroyed once the possibility of contact transference is over.
PRE BOOKING
Pre-booking to visit La Hougue Bie is only required for groups of six or more (adults or seniors) or school groups. Our group visit form can be found here.
ABOUT LA HOUGUE BIE
With a name that’s derived from the Old Norse of the Vikings – haugr meaning a mound and byr – that’s bound up with a medieval legend of a dragon and a knight, it’s no surprise that La Hougue Bie is a magical and surprising place creating a truly memorable experience, home to one of the ten oldest buildings in the world.
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO AT LA HOUGUE BIE
1) Go inside Europe’s finest example of a Neolithic Passage Grave – one of the ten oldest buildings in the world
2) Explore the new Neolithic Longhouse, built by our volunteers
3) Take a free tour with one of our volunteer guides
4) Take some time to reflect at the Memorial to the Forced Workers
5) Enjoy the Tearooms on site
THE LEGEND
According to a folk tale, the mound of La Hougue Bie takes its name from the Lordship of Hambye in nearby Normandy. While the legend tells the story of a dragon and the knight who killed it, others interpret it as a tale of the Christianisation of the old pagan site, with the dragon representing the old beliefs and the knight the new religion of Christianity.
LA HOUGUE BIE THROUGH THE AGES
Around this compact and tranquil site you will discover traces of life in Jersey over six millennia, from one of Europe’s finest Neolithic passage graves to a concrete bunker from the German Occupation of 1940 to 1945.
The La Hougue Bie passage grave was constructed by some of Jersey’s earliest inhabitants, as both a tomb and a place for the living to engage in rituals and ceremonies. Unlike many other dolmens, you can stand inside its chamber and feel the atmosphere of this profoundly sacred space. The tomb is so aligned that the interior is illuminated by the rising sun on the spring and autumn equinox.
Once completed, the passage and chamber was secreted beneath a mound of stones and earth. When it fell into disuse around 5,000 years ago, it was blocked up with debris and forgotten until the medieval era when a Christian chapel was constructed on top of the prehistoric mound.
When Jersey embraced the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, the chapel fell into secular hands. In 1792, during the Napoleonic Wars, its owner Philippe D’Auverge converted it into a Gothic folly and signalling station known as The Prince’s Tower. After his death, La Hougue Bie was opened as a public attraction and soon became popular as a venue for eating, drinking and dancing.
By the late 19th century the Tower had become derelict and sadly was demolished in 1924, so that the mound could be excavated. The following year the site was opened as a museum until the German Occupation began in 1940. A command bunker is a permanent reminder of that period, which has been repurposed to tell the story of the plight of the thousands of forced workers brought to Jersey by the Organisation Todt.
The Neolithic Longhouse – Built entirely by volunteers, a 20-metre-long replica Neolithic Longhouse has been constructed at La Hougue Bie. The team used only traditional tools and authentic Neolithic techniques, including mud daubing, thatching, bark-stripping and making cordage from stinging nettles and brambles. In 2019, the building won the prestigious Discover Heritage Award given by the Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI). The AHI awards take place every two years and recognise outstanding cultural and natural heritage interpretation in Britain and Ireland.
Read more about the impressive Prince’s Tower once situated at the site.
You can take a virtual tour of Jersey’s spiritual landscape by downloading the free audio tour from the tours and trails section on the website.
TEAROOM
The Tearoom is run by Beresford Street Kitchen Take a look at the Tearoom menu here. Beresford Street Kitchen is a social enterprise providing education, training and employment for people with learning disabilities and autism. Entrance and parking: Parking at La Hougue Bie is available for Visitors to the Site and tearooms and there is an over-flow parking facility for busy periods (subject to local weather conditions).
VISUAL STORY
Download our Visual Story for La Hougue Bie. This is a helpful guide to what to expect on a visit and has been produced in consultation with Autism Jersey.
FACILITIES AND ACCESS
Payment: Contactless payment only (not Diners Club or American Express)
Organised groups: 15% discount for groups of 6 or more adults or seniors. Please book in advance by completing the form here.
Entrance and parking: Car park on site for people visiting the site (there is no parking for customers just visiting the Tearoom)
Buses and cycle routes: Route number 13 stops outside La Hougue Bie. Jersey cycle routes 3 and 8
Refreshments: Tearoom on site
Gift Shop: The Jersey Heritage gift shop, selling gifts and souvenirs is on site
Guide Book: A souvenir guide book is available to buy on site
Access arrangements: There is limited disabled access at the site
Dogs: No dogs allowed, except Guide Dogs. Read our policy here.
Hearing loop: available at reception and a portable hearing loop is available for groups if requested in advance
WIFI: Available on site
La Hougue Bie (Visitor Attraction) has achieved a Gold level in the Green Tourism Scheme
ACCESS STATEMENT
Read our statement for La Hougue Bie (.docx version).
Aerial images with thanks to Chris Brookes.
Tomb image Pierre Longnus
