Normandy beaches
Discussion
Stayed in Port en Bessin in a cottage a few years back with the family. A good base with some really good restaurants etc. Omaha beach itself is pretty awe inspiring, as is the Point d'Hoc were the US Rangers stormed the cliffs.
Also go to Arromanche, Mulberry Harbour and a good museum. Another must go is Pegasus bridge near Caen, they have moved the original bridge into a field near by and built a museum to the British airborne there which is very moving. The cafe that was used by the troops is still there, run by the same family I think!
The German gun battery between Omaha and arromanche is also worth a visit as is Gold beach nearer Caen.
You are also close to Bayeux for the tapestry!
Still got the seven? I've been driving seven's for 25 years!!!
Cheers
Mike
Also go to Arromanche, Mulberry Harbour and a good museum. Another must go is Pegasus bridge near Caen, they have moved the original bridge into a field near by and built a museum to the British airborne there which is very moving. The cafe that was used by the troops is still there, run by the same family I think!
The German gun battery between Omaha and arromanche is also worth a visit as is Gold beach nearer Caen.
You are also close to Bayeux for the tapestry!
Still got the seven? I've been driving seven's for 25 years!!!
Cheers
Mike
off the top of my head:
Pointe De Hoc and Pegasus, as said
St Mere Eglise, Airborne Museum and the paratrooper dangling off the church, there's another Airborne museum at Carentan I think
just going to these villages with the names you recognise from war films, or BoB
there's a cafe right behind Omaha beach, it was there during the invasion - it seems like every surface is covered in signatures of veterans and famous visitors
Site Hillman is interesting, just up from the Mulberry harbour area, which also has a nice museum
big German cemetery at La Cambe, over 20,000 graves
Pointe De Hoc and Pegasus, as said
St Mere Eglise, Airborne Museum and the paratrooper dangling off the church, there's another Airborne museum at Carentan I think
just going to these villages with the names you recognise from war films, or BoB
there's a cafe right behind Omaha beach, it was there during the invasion - it seems like every surface is covered in signatures of veterans and famous visitors
Site Hillman is interesting, just up from the Mulberry harbour area, which also has a nice museum
big German cemetery at La Cambe, over 20,000 graves
If you've got 7 days then I don't think you need a plan. You can do it all. I go every year for a day or two whilst I can't get through a lot in that time, you will have no problem with a week.
If you're coming in from the East then it all starts at Merville-Plage by Ouistreham, and continues west until Saint-Mere d'Eglise. Carentan and Bayeux mark the southern end of things.
Top tips - get a book or two so you know the story and the places, watch The Longest Day, and then when you're there just stop at every brown tourist sign you see. most of the roads are small, so look out sideways as you drive and you will see stuff in fields. Just stop and go look. Some of the fortifications have been absolutely devastated by barrage from battleships, and not just at Point de Hoc (a must see).
See the museums at Pegasus Bridge, Saint-Mere d'Eglise, and Arromanches, Merville Battery. The films and commentaries are very good.
If you're coming in from the East then it all starts at Merville-Plage by Ouistreham, and continues west until Saint-Mere d'Eglise. Carentan and Bayeux mark the southern end of things.
Top tips - get a book or two so you know the story and the places, watch The Longest Day, and then when you're there just stop at every brown tourist sign you see. most of the roads are small, so look out sideways as you drive and you will see stuff in fields. Just stop and go look. Some of the fortifications have been absolutely devastated by barrage from battleships, and not just at Point de Hoc (a must see).
See the museums at Pegasus Bridge, Saint-Mere d'Eglise, and Arromanches, Merville Battery. The films and commentaries are very good.
We did the beaches at Easter. Seven days is MORE than enough time.
We were based at the Novotel in Bayeux abut five minutes walk from the D-Day Museum. . We spent a day doing the American sector Ste Mere Eglise, Omaha (including American Cemetery) and Utah. A day doing Pegasus Bridge and Melville Battery and the third day doing Juno (Courseulles-Sur-Mer), and Gold (Arromanches) and and hour at the German battery at Longues-Sur-Mer.
All the sites are easy to get to and have good parking and rest-room and restaurant facilities. Every site has a museum.
There are lots of guided tours in a minibus which are worth considering if you don't know too much about the close details of historical events.
Its a trip everyone should do at least once. Very humbling and moving experience.
We were based at the Novotel in Bayeux abut five minutes walk from the D-Day Museum. . We spent a day doing the American sector Ste Mere Eglise, Omaha (including American Cemetery) and Utah. A day doing Pegasus Bridge and Melville Battery and the third day doing Juno (Courseulles-Sur-Mer), and Gold (Arromanches) and and hour at the German battery at Longues-Sur-Mer.
All the sites are easy to get to and have good parking and rest-room and restaurant facilities. Every site has a museum.
There are lots of guided tours in a minibus which are worth considering if you don't know too much about the close details of historical events.
Its a trip everyone should do at least once. Very humbling and moving experience.
Edited by audidoody on Wednesday 22 May 10:29
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