St Anne or Saint Anne is the capital and the main town of Alderney in the Channel Islands, located about 10 miles off the coast of Auderville in the Manche department of the Basse-Normandie region of north-western France. As of 2010, it has an estimated population of 2000, compared to an estimated 2400 who actually live on the island; they have traditional names such as "vaques" (French for cows) and "lapins" (French for rabbits, given after the rabbits found in the island). The town has the old world charm of a French town with its cobbled streets, picturesque cottages, restaurants and pubs. It dominates much of the island, almost extending up to the Braye Harbour to its north, which is the main port of entry to the island and the town. It is located on a high ground at the centre of the island on the northwest direction.
Victoria Street, founded in 1836 and serving as the town's main thoroughfare, is the commercial hub with shops, pubs and restaurants, along with banking and post office services flanking both sides of the street. The town hall is an impressive building and the museum presents pictures of the island with dramatic presentation of its military history; the town and the island having earned the epithet "Gibraltar of the Channel" during war time. France is seen from here, as it is only 8 miles (13 km) away from the island. The Alderney Journal, the locally produced newspaper, has an office on Ollivier Street.
