The Cotentin Peninsula is a peninsula in Normandy that forms part of the northwest coast of France. The peninsula is located to the east of the Channel Islands, to the northeast of Brittany, and along the English Channel. The cities of Cherbourg, Valognes, Carentan, St. Lo, Bayeux, Vire, and Avranches are located in the peninsula, which was a major battleground in 1944 during World War II's Operation Overlord.