D-Day Beaches - Road Trip

D-Day Beaches - Road Trip

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Old Merc

3,490 posts

167 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
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[quote=audidoody]I recommend four nights. You'll never do it justice in two days. You'll need a day for St Mere Eglise, Omaha and Utah, Pointe du Hoc, and American cemetery, a day for Pegasus Bridge and Merville Battery, a day for Juno (Courselles) and Sword (Arromanches) - plus a day in Bayeux for the D-Day museum and tapestry.
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Just what I was thinking.All these places are not just a quick look and go.By the time you have parked up,spent time in the museum,sat through a video,food,drink,loos,then sat read up and reflect on what happened there in 44,thats half the day gone.The American Cemetary at Omaha in particular will get to you,you can just sit there and reflect for hours.

My wife`s an artist so the deal was,I did all the beaches and WW2 stuff,she did Bayeux,Caen and Monet`s Garden.That round trip starting and finishing in Cherbourg was about seven days.

Edited by Old Merc on Thursday 28th April 10:43

Huntsman

8,044 posts

250 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
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http://www.manoir-acherie.fr/presentation_manoir_a... - very nice, nearby in Villedieu there is a bell ofundary which is interesting.

http://www.valleedelarance.com/en/ - fabulous. Lovely people. Fab breakfast. Near to St Malo.

If its a pootle round France, then ferry to St Malo and Cherbourg back works v well.

Martin_Hx

3,955 posts

198 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
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Most people have covered everything, there is a lot to see and its everywhere! The cemeteries are very humbling places to be. We did a few British, the big American Omaha and the huge German one.

We had a base in Bayeux for 3 nights (after spending 2 nights in honfleur) then traveled to Brittney for a week then back up to cherbourg to see some more WW2 stuff and eventually get the ferry back.

g3org3y

20,627 posts

191 months

Sunday 1st May 2016
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I'll be visiting Normandy later in the year for a wedding. Hopefully will have a bit of time to visit a few places of interest. Thread bookmarked. thumbup

aeropilot

34,526 posts

227 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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audidoody said:
I recommend four nights. You'll never do it justice in two days. You'll need a day for St Mere Eglise, Omaha and Utah, Pointe du Hoc, and American cemetery, a day for Pegasus Bridge and Merville Battery, a day for Juno (Courselles) and Sword (Arromanches) - plus a day in Bayeux for the D-Day museum and tapestry.

Also worth considering a professional tour in a mini bus (they pick you up from your hotel)
Yup, won't even scratch the surface of what to see in two days. I spent a week there back in '99 for the 55th Anniversary events and I doubt if we even got to see half of what there is to see and visit....even if we hadn't been involved in some of the official stuff.

And yes I agree, pre-book one (or more!) of the many battlefield tour's as the best way of getting to see stuff.



RobGT81

5,229 posts

186 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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The German cemetery at Huisnes-sur-Mer, just near Mont St Michel is worth a visit. Very stark and different to the allied cemeteries.