Normandy beaches etc
Discussion
MXRod said:
What a great thread , far more informative than any travel guide , written by people who have actually been there , we are taking our teenage (13) grandson to France this year .The main part of the trip will be the Dordogne , but we will be spending 2 or 3 days visiting Normandy
He has a genuine interest and in depth knowledge of WW2 , and would like to visit the area of the Normandy beaches .
This thread contains just the sort of information we need to get the most out of the visit .
Bookmarked
When you are in the Dordogne then try to visit Oradour sur Glane, near Limoges depends where you are in the DordogneHe has a genuine interest and in depth knowledge of WW2 , and would like to visit the area of the Normandy beaches .
This thread contains just the sort of information we need to get the most out of the visit .
Bookmarked
A must see sight for anyone with an interest in WW2
leyorkie said:
MXRod said:
What a great thread , far more informative than any travel guide , written by people who have actually been there , we are taking our teenage (13) grandson to France this year .The main part of the trip will be the Dordogne , but we will be spending 2 or 3 days visiting Normandy
He has a genuine interest and in depth knowledge of WW2 , and would like to visit the area of the Normandy beaches .
This thread contains just the sort of information we need to get the most out of the visit .
Bookmarked
When you are in the Dordogne then try to visit Oradour sur Glane, near Limoges depends where you are in the DordogneHe has a genuine interest and in depth knowledge of WW2 , and would like to visit the area of the Normandy beaches .
This thread contains just the sort of information we need to get the most out of the visit .
Bookmarked
A must see sight for anyone with an interest in WW2
I took by brother there for 5 days last June, we camped in the grounds of a Chateau at Bayeux and toured the beaches in a 1944 jeep.
Met some amazing people along the way, especially picking up a US Brigadier General in an Omaha bunker and driving him down the Colville draw, sharing calvados watching the sunset.
To add some further sites, the dead mans corner museum is very good, also Site Hillman (Colleville-Montgomery) which you could do after Pegasus bridge if you follow the coast road North. This is where the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment were fighting. One interesting complex to explore is Maisy Battery, run by a Brit (Dan), still being dug out so fascinating to see work in progress.
Final last must see is when you are at Merville you have to do the sound/light show bunker near the end, very eye opening.
Portsmouth Caen return ferry £138, camping 4 nights £50pp, not bad if you are on a budget.
Met some amazing people along the way, especially picking up a US Brigadier General in an Omaha bunker and driving him down the Colville draw, sharing calvados watching the sunset.
To add some further sites, the dead mans corner museum is very good, also Site Hillman (Colleville-Montgomery) which you could do after Pegasus bridge if you follow the coast road North. This is where the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment were fighting. One interesting complex to explore is Maisy Battery, run by a Brit (Dan), still being dug out so fascinating to see work in progress.
Final last must see is when you are at Merville you have to do the sound/light show bunker near the end, very eye opening.
Portsmouth Caen return ferry £138, camping 4 nights £50pp, not bad if you are on a budget.
Abbott said:
leyorkie said:
MXRod said:
What a great thread , far more informative than any travel guide , written by people who have actually been there , we are taking our teenage (13) grandson to France this year .The main part of the trip will be the Dordogne , but we will be spending 2 or 3 days visiting Normandy
He has a genuine interest and in depth knowledge of WW2 , and would like to visit the area of the Normandy beaches .
This thread contains just the sort of information we need to get the most out of the visit .
Bookmarked
When you are in the Dordogne then try to visit Oradour sur Glane, near Limoges depends where you are in the DordogneHe has a genuine interest and in depth knowledge of WW2 , and would like to visit the area of the Normandy beaches .
This thread contains just the sort of information we need to get the most out of the visit .
Bookmarked
A must see sight for anyone with an interest in WW2
Strict dress code when walking around memorials as well , rightly so
Going slightly off the OP`s topic,but keeping on the subject of WW2 for those who are interested.
https://www.thetraveltrunk.net/la-coupole/ The underground V2 rocket base at La Coupole is well worth a visit. Its near St Omer not far from Calais.
Its now a very interesting museum,huge place.There are a number of other WW2 V1 sites near by. Looking at those rockets and missiles does make you think. Good job D Day was a success other wise they would have developed the V3 ?
https://www.thetraveltrunk.net/la-coupole/ The underground V2 rocket base at La Coupole is well worth a visit. Its near St Omer not far from Calais.
Its now a very interesting museum,huge place.There are a number of other WW2 V1 sites near by. Looking at those rockets and missiles does make you think. Good job D Day was a success other wise they would have developed the V3 ?
Thanks to all contributors to the thread for the inspiration, I've booked a 5 day trip at the end of March/Start of April, based out of Bayeux.
I went for a 5 day trip as it was super cheap on the ferry, but suddenly finding there's barely time to fit in a decent visit to each beach let alone all the inland sites or down to Mont Ormel to mark the end of the battle.
Definitely need to think about another trip before I've even done this one. Perhaps take the scenic route to the Le Mans Classic....
I went for a 5 day trip as it was super cheap on the ferry, but suddenly finding there's barely time to fit in a decent visit to each beach let alone all the inland sites or down to Mont Ormel to mark the end of the battle.
Definitely need to think about another trip before I've even done this one. Perhaps take the scenic route to the Le Mans Classic....
NormalWisdom said:
More on the Maisy Battery from today's Daily Fail
There are talks of a movie being considered that based itself around Maisy and Point du Hoc. Especially, the US coverup of Maisy (physical and literal) due to intelligence failuresFWIW, last spring, I read Caen: Anvil of Victory by Alexander McKee (among other books) as I took a few days in my Alfa to follow the campaign route a couple of relations took all the way from Normandy up into North Western Germany with the Wessex Division.
The book really highlights from the perspective of British troops just how precarious the invasion force's foothold was and how bloody the fighting was. It also does not mince words on the horrific level of civilian casualties.
I am sure that there are more recent books and this one could really do with better mapping but it still provides a very useful British perspective to post-D Day.
The book really highlights from the perspective of British troops just how precarious the invasion force's foothold was and how bloody the fighting was. It also does not mince words on the horrific level of civilian casualties.
I am sure that there are more recent books and this one could really do with better mapping but it still provides a very useful British perspective to post-D Day.
Pertinent thread, as Mrs.T66 asked me recently what was on my 'bucket list' (a term I hate - it makes me think I'm ready to pop off! 
)
Visiting the Normandy beaches or perhaps the WW1 sites/memorials came up, so some very good info already posted. I wonder if it's feasible to do Le Mans Classic and a tour of Normandy.
Does anyone know of any organised driving tours of the area (nothing too quick or sporty, mind - I drive a flipping IQ!) ?
)Visiting the Normandy beaches or perhaps the WW1 sites/memorials came up, so some very good info already posted. I wonder if it's feasible to do Le Mans Classic and a tour of Normandy.
Does anyone know of any organised driving tours of the area (nothing too quick or sporty, mind - I drive a flipping IQ!
) ?Re; A trip of normandy with the classic L M 2020.
That's exactly my plan ,we are arriving dieppe on 28/06 approx 0400, driving down to Isigny sur mer ,(there's a v good campsite ) as a base , its a nice friendly small town,then our plans are carentan (battle of bloody gulche ) ,maisy battery ,la cambe cemetery ,coleville sur mer cemetery ,arromanches les bains and if time juno beach museum ,then drive down on 1st to lemans classic where we are booked in on blue sud campsite. start the return homewards on monday 06 july to catch ferry home to newhaven 7th at mid day.
We are using a vw camper ,(petrol/lpg) , costs for fuel ,ferry ,museums campsites and entry to lm classic for 2 comes to to approx £650. Add on food supplies ,beer wine etc and incidentals ...............and the obligatory le mans fast food and beer . a good 10 days trip . Get a good map ,do a bit of research and forward planning so you have some form of rough schedule,so many places to see,so try to use the geography to save wasted time driving miles like a knitting pattern, go point to point,then context of the advance of the troops become apparent and obvious.
We did similar in 2018 visiting different d day places to the above ,its impossible to see everything in one trip or even two i reckon .
Early booking saves much with ferry prices.
HTH
That's exactly my plan ,we are arriving dieppe on 28/06 approx 0400, driving down to Isigny sur mer ,(there's a v good campsite ) as a base , its a nice friendly small town,then our plans are carentan (battle of bloody gulche ) ,maisy battery ,la cambe cemetery ,coleville sur mer cemetery ,arromanches les bains and if time juno beach museum ,then drive down on 1st to lemans classic where we are booked in on blue sud campsite. start the return homewards on monday 06 july to catch ferry home to newhaven 7th at mid day.
We are using a vw camper ,(petrol/lpg) , costs for fuel ,ferry ,museums campsites and entry to lm classic for 2 comes to to approx £650. Add on food supplies ,beer wine etc and incidentals ...............and the obligatory le mans fast food and beer . a good 10 days trip . Get a good map ,do a bit of research and forward planning so you have some form of rough schedule,so many places to see,so try to use the geography to save wasted time driving miles like a knitting pattern, go point to point,then context of the advance of the troops become apparent and obvious.
We did similar in 2018 visiting different d day places to the above ,its impossible to see everything in one trip or even two i reckon .
Early booking saves much with ferry prices.
HTH
I've been four or five times and always find something new to see, and I'd agree that Arromanches 360 cinema and the Omaha Cemetery are really worth visiting, especially the Cemetery as you can stand in one spot and look at the beach, turn around and see the massed ranks of headstones. My teenage son said at the time that "you can read how many thousands of soldiers were killed in Normandy, but it isn't until you stand and look at over 9000 graves that you understand just how many people that is"
I'd recommend a day based in Bayeux, the British and Commonwelth Cemetery is across the road from the excellent Battle of Normandy Museum and walking distance from the Tapestry
Another complete day can be spent around St Mere Eglise. The town square is right next to The Airborne Museum, which I think is superb and is also updated regularly. Three or four hours in the town and museum and then take a short drive west (5/10 minutes) to what I consider to be one of the less obvious but most thought provoking memorials in Normandy, La Fiere Causeway. It encompasses so many aspects of D Day and the Battle of Normandy in one very small area and is well worth a visit (and researching before you go).
There are also all kinds of small memorials in villages and at the roadside commemorating acts of bravery and sacrifice which are worth stopping at and reading.
I'd recommend a day based in Bayeux, the British and Commonwelth Cemetery is across the road from the excellent Battle of Normandy Museum and walking distance from the Tapestry
Another complete day can be spent around St Mere Eglise. The town square is right next to The Airborne Museum, which I think is superb and is also updated regularly. Three or four hours in the town and museum and then take a short drive west (5/10 minutes) to what I consider to be one of the less obvious but most thought provoking memorials in Normandy, La Fiere Causeway. It encompasses so many aspects of D Day and the Battle of Normandy in one very small area and is well worth a visit (and researching before you go).
There are also all kinds of small memorials in villages and at the roadside commemorating acts of bravery and sacrifice which are worth stopping at and reading.
Thread resurrection
With the likelihood of the UK quarantine restrictions being lifted , our plans for our trip to France are back on course ( the rights and wrongs are another discussion ) So I will be rereading the thread and perhaps printing off many of the excellent suggestions .
It is now up to grandson to choose the main places he wishes to visit , and then see what we can add as extras , also having to factor in a Vet visit to get dog wormed for admittance back into UK .
With the likelihood of the UK quarantine restrictions being lifted , our plans for our trip to France are back on course ( the rights and wrongs are another discussion ) So I will be rereading the thread and perhaps printing off many of the excellent suggestions .
It is now up to grandson to choose the main places he wishes to visit , and then see what we can add as extras , also having to factor in a Vet visit to get dog wormed for admittance back into UK .
As mentioned a few posts ago I was due to go to Normandy at the end of March. Luckily I could cancel my accomodation without cost and get a credit note for my ferry.
It will be interesting to see if the places that usually close for the winter remain open this year.
Have any of the main sites re-opened at all?
It will be interesting to see if the places that usually close for the winter remain open this year.
Have any of the main sites re-opened at all?
MXRod said:
Thread resurrection
With the likelihood of the UK quarantine restrictions being lifted , our plans for our trip to France are back on course ( the rights and wrongs are another discussion ) So I will be rereading the thread and perhaps printing off many of the excellent suggestions .
It is now up to grandson to choose the main places he wishes to visit , and then see what we can add as extras , also having to factor in a Vet visit to get dog wormed for admittance back into UK .
Normandy and the D Day circuit is probably one of the better options for a holiday right now.With the likelihood of the UK quarantine restrictions being lifted , our plans for our trip to France are back on course ( the rights and wrongs are another discussion ) So I will be rereading the thread and perhaps printing off many of the excellent suggestions .
It is now up to grandson to choose the main places he wishes to visit , and then see what we can add as extras , also having to factor in a Vet visit to get dog wormed for admittance back into UK .
Cross-border quarantine aside, most of the key sites are very open and allow lots of distancing.
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