Sunken lanes are common in the West of France, in the "bocage" landscape, especially around Lower Normandy, Brittany and Anjou. The "bocage" landscape is historically famous for having been a particular feature of some conflicts, including the Chouannerie, or more recently the Battle of Normandy. The German army used sunken lanes to implement strong points and defenses to stop the American troops on the Cotentin peninsula and around the town of Saint-Lô.