Trip accross Normandy D-Day Beaches

The momentous events of June 6th 1944 began shortly after midnight, with the dropping of the first British airborne troops between the Orne and Dives rivers. Then it was the turn of the Americans to parachute into the Contentin, at the other end of the sector.

Meanwhile, the RAF's heavy bombers were pounding those artillery batteries of the Atlantic wall that were thought to pose the greatest threat.

At 5:45 am, the fleet opened fire on the German defenses.

At 6:30 am, the first American assault waves reached the Utah and Omaha beaches. In the British And Canadian sectors, the attack was launched an hour later, to take account of the different tide times.

By the evening of June 6th, 20000 vehicles and 155000 soldiers had been landed the number of men reported killed,wounded or missing came to approximately 10000 far fewer than the planners had feared…

To understand the battle of Normandy, better you start your visit by the Memorial of Can (2,5 hours drive from Paris). So this is the itinerary that we suggest:

  • Visit of the Memorial of Can
  • Arromanche village
  • American Cemetery
  • Pointe du Hoc
  • Sainte-Mère-Église

Itinerary

Memorial of Caen:

The Caen Memorial is a museum dedicated to the history of the XX century, in the whole topic turned to peace. Built at the location of the command post of General Richter, commander of the 716th German division during landings and the Battle of Normandy.

It explains the different stages of the conflict, particularly the Battle of Normandy and the advance of allied forces in France, are presented as well as the history of the Holocaust…

Thirty minutes drive to Arromanches.

Arromanches:

Arromanches is remembered as a historic place of landing, including the artificial port was installed.

This port allowed to disembark 9000 tons of material per day.

It’s on the beach of Arromanches that during the invasion of Normandy, immediately after D-Day, the Allies established an artificial harbour temporarily to allow the unloading of heavy equipment without waiting for the conquest of deep water ports.

D-Day museums: Built on the site where was located in the artificial port, which you can still see the remains of a few hundred meters.

Thirty minutes drive on the coast to the American Cemetery.

American Cemetery:

Military cemetery and Memorial located on the coast, between Arromanches and Grandcamp Maisy, this site, which extends over 70 hectares, overlooking Omaha beach. It brings together the graves of 9387 soldiers killed in combat.

The chapel and the memorial garden of the missing complement this set.

The visitor center is a tribute to the courage and skill it looks to lead Operation Overlord and allow the liberation of Europe, and the sacrifice of those now rest in this place.

Pointe du Hoc:

Strategic point of the Atlantic wall, the site of Pointe du Hoc was stormed on the morning of June 6, D-Day by the colonel Rudder. This was one of the hardest battles of the landing. In the end, on 225 Rangers, only 90 of them were still in condition to continue the release.

Today, the scars of the battle are still visible.

During your visit, you will discover what was an artillery battery with its management of shooting position, its bunkers, its shellers…

Sainte-Mère-Église:

On the night of 5 to 6 June 1944, during the parachute troops in the area of Sainte-Mère-Église during Operation Boston, John Steele was hit in the leg by a bullet. He could not control his parachute and nally landed on the steeple of the church around 4:00 a.m.…

The end of the tour 2,5 hours drive to Paris.