Visiting the D-Day Seashores of Normandy was one thing we all the time needed to do, however by no means managed to place it on our journey itinerary. As soon as we lastly visited, we puzzled why it took so lengthy. June 6, 1945 modified the course of the battle with greater than 100,000 Allied troops touchdown on Normandy’s seashores which led to the start of the top of World Battle II.
To see the historic seashores is one thing that everybody must do. It’s not solely a historical past lesson, however it is usually a reminder of how fragile democracy is and the way fortunate we’re right now that so many individuals fought for our freedom. Greater than 10,000 males died on that seaside, however within the months forward, the remaining troops pushed on and, because of their braveness and sacrifice, defeated the tyranny of the Nazi Forces.
The Finest Normandy Itinerary – D-Day Seashores
We thought we knew so much about World Battle II, however after spending per week visiting the seashores, monuments, and museums, we gained a brand new appreciation for this vital second in historical past and located that the folks of Normandy are nonetheless grateful to those that liberated their seashores and made it doable for them to rebuild, thrive and revel in this lovely a part of France right now.
We now have put collectively a singular D-Day itinerary that will help you not solely study D-day and the months that adopted resulting in the top of the battle but additionally take pleasure in the fantastic thing about Normandy’s seashores, style its scrumptious delicacies, and have an opportunity to go to strategic areas and delightful locations. When you see all there’s to do in Normandy, you’ll wish to put it on the prime of your France journey itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival and Bayeux
Our journey to Normandy started in Paris, the place we have been picked up and pushed to Pont-l’Évêque (a couple of 3-hour drive) for lunch. One of the best ways to get round Normandy is to hire a automobile, so we propose reserving a automobile rental from the airport to have the ability to take pleasure in your Normandy itinerary at your individual tempo.
Lunch La Dégusterie
After a protracted flight and three-hour drive, La Dégusterie on Rue Saint Michel was the right environment to take pleasure in a scrumptious array of Normandy cheeses and wines. The proprietor, David, greeted us with an enormous smile and a heat welcome, identical to everybody we met in Normandy. We liked tasting our method via the area’s specialties as we paired them with totally different ciders and Calvados.
The place to Keep
After a fast one-hour drive, we arrived in Bayeux and checked into our lodge, Hotel de Brunville & Spa. This 3-star lodge is situated within the very middle of historic Bayeux and affords comfy trendy rooms with a swimming pool and sizzling tub. It was a bit of slice of serenity and paradise in the course of a bustling city.
Afternoon: The Bayeux Tapestry Museum
Bayeux is an excellent place for a stroll alongside its cobblestone streets, that are stuffed with loads of historical past. The Bayeux Tapestry Museum, situated within the outdated seminary, is by far the highest draw. This UNESCO-rated museum tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 via detailed embroidery spanning 70 meters lengthy (229 ft). This tapestry is sort of 1000 years outdated, and it’s an interesting piece of historical past.
The museum will bear a large transformation in 2025, so be certain that to go to quickly earlier than the priceless tapestry is put into storage for safekeeping. It’s going to shut on September 1, 2025, and is scheduled to reopen to the general public in October 2027.
Bayeux Cathedral
After visiting the museum, the Bayeux Cathedral is only a brief stroll away. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux undoubtedly resembles the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris. This Nationwide Monument dates again to 924 when the Viking Rollo turned the primary Duke of Normandy. For those who watched the Historical past Channel’s Vikings, you’ll know what I’m speaking about.
Courting again to the Gallo-Roman interval, the cathedral’s Gothic structure is price visiting to see its gorgeous stained glass home windows and the unique crypt.
Dinner: L’Alcove
We ended our first night time in Bayeux with a scrumptious dinner at L’Alcôve, a neighborhood restaurant serving great Norman delicacies. We feasted on contemporary seafood and apple-infused dishes (Normandy is known for its apples), and it was the right introduction to the area’s specialties.
Day 2: Sainte-Mère-Église and Omaha Seaside
Our second day in Normandy started with a drive to Sainte-Mère-Église, one other city well-known in D-Day historical past. Sainte-Mère-Église was the primary city in France to be liberated, and it’s a poignant tribute to the Allied troopers who fought and died for our freedom.
Morning: Church of Sainte-Mère-Église
The very first thing you’ll discover is a paratrooper hanging off the roof of the church. US Paratrooper John Steele was hung up on the bell tower and was trapped there earlier than being lower down by German troopers and brought prisoner. This scene is performed out in The Longest Day, starring John Wayne, and is entrance and middle when arriving on the sq..
Airborne Museum
Immediately throughout the road is the Airborne Museum. This museum homes a group of 5 pavilions that inform the story of the U.S. 82nd and a hundred and first Airborne Divisions touchdown on D-Day. Paratroopers dropped into Normandy the night time earlier than D-Day to safe the cities and block German approaches in direction of the touchdown seashores.
The primary constructing to open was parachute-shaped constructing in 1964 and right now it homes an exhibit depicting the German occupation of Normandy. Since then the Airborne Museum has grown immensely with 4 extra buildings added. The C-47 Constructing is a large exhibit that has paratroopers hanging from the rafters round an unique C-47 plane.
One of the crucial highly effective displays within the Operation Neptune pavilion exhibits paratroopers getting ready to leap on the night time of June 5, 1944. You may really feel the vibration and sounds of the airplane as you stroll via the hull of the airplane, the place paratroopers put together to leap.
One other spotlight is the total measurement glider on show. The night time earlier than D-Day, moreover paratroopers, Gliders carrying infantry landed behind enemy strains to safe bridges and cities and help troops throughout their amphibious landings on the beahes. They have been meant to be flown solely as soon as and most have been destroyed, so it was fairly the coup when this glider was found and preserved to be displayed.
Lunch Le Biscuit de Sainte-Mère-Église
After visiting the museums, we strolled via city to peruse the historic indicators earlier than having fun with a neighborhood beer at Brasserie de Sainte Mere Eglise, which is simply on the outskirts of city.
A preferred lunch spot is Biscuit de Sainte-Mère-Église, a comfy restaurant serving traditional Norman fare the place you possibly can decide up some souvenirs on the reward store.
Afternoon: Jeep Tour to Omaha Seaside
After lunch, we boarded an authentic WWII jeep and drove to Pointe du Hoc, the American Cemetary, and Omaha Seaside. Our guides Florent and Dylan have been incredible younger males who have been well-informed, enthusiastic about sharing the realm’s historical past, and made the day quite a lot of enjoyable. They have been educated and enthusiastic about historical past, and we discovered a lot from them.
Flo determined to start out this firm after touring round america for 3 years interviewing WWII veterans. He and his associate Jenny have made it his mission to protect their tales. Dylan joined the workforce and so they all have a ardour for World Battle II and are decided to ensure veterans tales are usually not forgotten. Read their stories here.
Pointe du Hoc
I didn’t even learn about Pointe du Hoc earlier than going there, however this was a sheer 30 meter (100 foot) excessive cliff that was scaled by U.S. Military Rangers to grab and safe German artillery that may have fired on the American touchdown troops at Omaha and Utah seashores. The rangers fought for 2 days going through a major quantity of casulaties. Out of 225 troopers solely 90 remained.
Excursions take you to the German batteries, out to the cliffs, and alongside the waterfront. It has barely modified since WWII, and you’ll nonetheless see the large caverns left within the land from artillery.
American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer
Our jeep tour took us on to the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. The white crosses and stars marking the fallen are a poignant tribute to the fallen. The cemetery overlooks Omaha Seaside, the place greater than 4,000 lives have been misplaced on D-Day. Guests can stroll via the practically 10,000 graves of the fallen.
Omaha Seaside
After a solemn expertise paying tribute to the sacrifice of so many younger males, it was time for a bit of levity, so we hopped again into our jeeps to tour the Normandy countryside. We drove via backroads and trails slicing via forests and fields and will nearly think about the presence of the troopers who pushed on via these lands.
The tour ended with a view of WN60 Nests of Resistance excessive above Omaha Seaside, and when seeing the battlements, one can solely surprise how anybody survived.
We then drove to the seaside itself to stroll on the sand. I may solely think about the lengthy journey the troopers needed to face whereas avoiding hearth from above. The steep bluffs are a haunting reminder of the challenges going through U.S. troopers on D-Day. Our jeep tour ended right here, and we had time to stroll the seaside and take within the views.
Dinner – Le Petit Jardin
We had a scrumptious dinner at Le Petit Jardin, a restaurant well-known for its contemporary, native components. It’s situated in a captivating backyard on the outskirts of Bayeux.
Day 3: Biking By means of Historical past
Morning: e-Bike Tour
After breakfast at our lodge, we began day 3 with an electric bike tour from Bayeux. We met the information and proprietor, Hugo, to select up our bikes and helmets earlier than setting off via the picturesque Norman countryside to the German Battery of Longues-sur-Mer.
Longues-sur-Mer
Longues-sur-Mer is a coastal protection website and one of many best-preserved battlements of the Atlantic Wall. It was constructed by the Germans within the Nineteen Forties when weapons have been erected alongside the Atlantic Coast from France to Scandinavia to defend the coast from Allied forces. These battlements housed castmates geared up with weapons that might hearth as much as 20km.
Arromanches-les-Bains
We the cycled to Arromanches-les-Bains to see the remnants of Mulberry Harbor and synthetic harbour that was created by the English. It consisted of floating piers, pontoons and even roads to unload provides and reinforcements after D-Day. At this time you possibly can see stays of the metal and concrete harbour. At low tide you possibly can even stroll out to them.
D-Day Museum at Arromanches
The D-Day Museum at Arromanches is a should for studying about how this feat of engineering was achieved. This is without doubt one of the latest museums in Normandy, and it’s devoted to the British landings in Normandy. Positioned instantly on Gold Seaside, it has a number of multimedia displays showcasing the planning and execution of D-Day, how Mulberry Harbour was constructed, and what occurred after the battle.
Lunch – Fish & Co by Pappagall
We had a soothing lunch close by at Fish & Co by Pappagall. This fish and chips restaurant takes you straight to jolly outdated England, full with mushy peas. It’s an off-the-cuff seafood restaurant with images of visiting veterans on the partitions.
Afternoon
Within the afternoon, we visited the brand new British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer. Opened in 2021, this memorial honors the over 22,000 British troopers who died throughout the Normandy marketing campaign. The memorial is minimalist and delightful, located on a bluff overlooking the coast and the realm the place British troopers fought and died. The names of the fallen are etched in stone, and it’s a poignant tribute to their reminiscence.
Night – Lodge de la Marine
We checked into our lodge, Hotel de la Marine, a seafront property in Arromanches-les-Bains. It’s a beautiful lodge with comfy rooms and a restaurant on the seaside.
Day 4: Canadian D-Day Displays and Pegasus Bridge
Day 4 is all about Canada’s position on D-Day, and this was the day we have been most trying ahead to.
Morning: Juno Seaside Centre
We began the day by visiting the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer. This distinctive museum tells the story of Canada’s navy and civilian contributions. With interactive shows and literature, the museum takes you on a journey via the Canadian D-Day efforts.
Probably the most shifting tribute is the 12-minute movie They Walked With You. It’s an emotional movie that makes use of precise D-Day footage and first-hand accounts from survivors to color a vivid image of what it was wish to face the D-Day landings. It was really a shifting expertise.
When visiting the Juno Centre, younger Canadian volunteers lead guided excursions of the bunkers. It’s surreal strolling on the seaside, trying on the sandy bluffs and bunkers, and making an attempt to think about what it will have been like on that day.
Lunch
We had a scrumptious lunch close by at La Pêcherie, a neighborhood restaurant well-known for its seafood and Norman specialties. The restaurant is situated in a fisherman’s cottage downtown, and the decor is superb.
Afternoon – Pegasus Memorial
Within the afternoon, we visited the Pegasus Memorial, a museum honoring the British sixth Airborne Division. The museum tells the story of the gliders touchdown at night time to seize Pegasus Bridge, a key goal that secured the japanese flank of the invasion. In the event that they weren’t profitable of their mission, all may have been misplaced. The skillful gliders landed inside meters of the bridge, and the Allies secured the bridge.
The museum is a mix of interactive shows, a duplicate glider and the unique bridge. It’s not to be missed when visiting Normandy.
Night Caen
We spent the night strolling via the gorgeous metropolis of Caen. Positioned on the River Orne, Caen was thriving throughout the reign of William the Conqueror. The Caen Fort (Château de Caen) was the prime residence of the primary Norman King. The fortress and its partitions are very spectacular and price visiting. The Vaugueux district is a medieval village consisting of cobblestone streets and timber-wood homes, and that is the place we had dinner.
Dinner El Olivo
El Olivo is a Mediterranean restaurant with a incredible menu and bustling vibe.
In a single day – The Individuals Hostel in Caen
A really cool place to remain was the People Hostel situated in Downtown Caen. This hostel is strolling distance to the Caen Wall and fort, the waterfront marina and lots of eating places. Many college students and college teams keep at this hostel giving it a really cool vibe and it is vitally safe since many teams ebook out whole flooring.
Day 5: Caen Memorial and Return to Paris
Our last day in Normandy began with a go to to the Caen Memorial, the most important museum in France devoted to Twentieth-century historical past. The museum is large and tells the story of the lead-up to WWII, D-Day, and the post-war period, together with the Chilly Battle.
This was our favourite museum in Normandy, and I’ll admit, I assumed I used to be “museumed out,” however the Caen Memorial was the easiest way to finish our time in Normandy. Caen was practically destroyed in World Battle II after D-Day. Our passionate information stored us intrigued all through our journey via time.
This interactive museum has multimedia shows, interactive shows, emotional imagery, and loads of artifacts. It tells the story of the folks of Normand,y who are sometimes neglected when finding out the D-Day landings. 20,000 Normans died after June 6, 1944, and town of Caen was closely bombed and shelled and was underneath siege for one more month earlier than being liberated.
The museum is damaged up into totally different sections together with German normal Wilhelm Richter’s bunker which is situated underneath the museum. Company can stroll via the 70 meter (240 foot) lengthy tunnel.
Instructed Itineraries
1-Day Itinerary: Highlights Tour
For those who solely have at some point, be certain that to get an early begin. Go to Omaha Seaside and the Normandy American Cemetery. It’s a shifting tribute and an excellent place to start out your day. From there, head to Pointe du Hoc, a dramatic piece of shoreline with steep bluffs and bunkers. Finish your day in Arromanches-les-Bains and go to the D-Day Museum, which is linked to Gold Seaside.
2-Day Itinerary: D-Day Focus
- Day 1: Head to Sainte-Mère-Église, the place paratroopers first landed and go to the Paratroopers Museum, after which Pointe du Hoc adopted by a go to to the American Cemetery and Omaha Seaside.
- Day Start your day on the Juno Seaside Centre to see the museum and tour the bunkers. Then make your solution to Arromanches des Bains and go to the D-Day Museum of Arromanches, adopted by the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.
3-Day Itinerary: Full D-Day Itinerary
- Day 1: Utah Seaside, Sainte-Mère-Église, the Paratrooper Museum, and Bayeux, together with the Bayeux tapestry and Notre Dame Cathedral. Discover this historic city within the night.
- Day 2: Omaha Seaside, Pointe du Hoc and the American Cemetery after which Arromanches des Bain, Gold Seaside together with the D-Day Museum of Arromanches and the British Normandy Memorial at Gold Seaside.
- Day 3: Juno Seaside, Sword Seaside, and Pegasus Bridge.
Sensible Suggestions for Visiting
- Finest Time to Go to: We predict Normandy is finest explored in late spring and early fall. Visiting in early October was excellent weather-wise, and there have been fewer crowds.
- What to Pack: Layers are a should, it’s France and the climate is all the time unpredictable. Normandy can see many seasons in at some point. It’s windy, it may be wet and funky. Comfy sneakers are a should, we did quite a lot of strolling.
- Guided Excursions or Impartial Journey: We opted for a guided tour for its comfort and to make sure we noticed every part. For those who decide to journey independently, you’ll wish to plan your time very fastidiously and permit sufficient time for every location.
- If you’re not taking a guided tour, the easiest way to get round Normandy is by automobile. You may examine automobile leases right here.
Visiting the D-Day Seashores in Normandy isn’t just a visit; it’s an expertise. Every location has its personal distinctive story, a testomony to the bravery of troopers on each side. It’s a shifting expertise and one which we received’t quickly neglect. Plan your journey thoughtfully, and be ready to be moved by the sweetness and bravado of Normandy.
