Hi all, we are booked to go to Normandy (Houlgate) over the Queen's diamond jubilee holiday and am wondering whether anyone can point us in the direction of must see places. We are taking an 8yr old, a 14yr old and 2 x first time abroad pensioners.....
Which museums and beaches are best? Does anyone know of any planned rememberance ceremonies for D-Day? We know of Rouen, Bayeux, Mont St.Michel and Honfleur but would appreciate some experienced knowledge!!
Any help appreciated!!!
------------- Chris
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
The Airbourne Museum at Ste Mere Eglise is worth a visit as is the Utah Beach Museum. There is also the Museum at Arromanches where the Mulberry Harbour was.
Personally I would say a must for everyone to visit is the American War Cemetery at Colleville Sur Mer above Omaha Beach.The atmosphere is so movingly unforgettable. A stroll along the beach gives you some idea of the immensity of the invasion. Also likewise the British Cemetery and the adjacent War Museum in Caen. Arromanches, where the remains of the Mulberry Harbours can be seen is also is a must. The museum at Pegasus Bridge explains the strategic importance of it's capture and the orginal bridge, moved several years ago for road improvements, is still on view. Close to Houlgate is the Musee De La Batterie De Merville where the devastating Artillery Battery is preserved.
I would also like to visit one day the German War Cemetery which I believe is situated along the N13 between Carentan and Caen as this, I think, is the biggest of them all.
Post last edited on 16/02/2012 20:10:05
------------- Mother Nature always wins in the end.
There is an organistion called NormandiePass whereby you can purchase a card from Offices De Tourisme etc which will give you discounted entry to 26 Museums and sites along the D-Day beaches. See here for details.
------------- Mother Nature always wins in the end.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I don't know about services for D Day in France, but they certainly celebrate the 11th November. Passing through a little town in the Aude - Millas - on Remembrance Day 2011 was so moving that I burst into tears, seeing all the people respectfully dresssed in black, placing flowers on the memorial, with the Marseillaise played by the Fireman's band!
We were both very moved by it.
Similarly in Perpignan, a few years ago, when almost the whole town 'shut down' for a few minutes, traffic stopped, the parade headed for the war memorial, and the town stoood still respectfully for a couple of minutes
I found going through the War Graves area very moving too, (we've gone through the area lots of times) but we've not actually 'done' the Landing Beaches, or any of the museums in Normandy.
The Normandy Tourist Board do a very good guide to the area, as I have just been reading it.......we are off to Bayeux for a week on Sunday, sans caravan.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If you're anywhere at all in Normandie on/around June 6th there are so many things to see & do it's unreal. Usually there's a mass parachute drop at La Fière near Ste. Mère Eglise. last years was cancelled due to the weather, but promised more than 500 paras. The year before there were over 300 and it was spectacular. It gives an idea what it must have been like on the day itself. There are reenactment villages all over the place, with not just uniforms all over the place, but encampments too. The vehicles are stunning from Jeeps to bomb carriers, to half tracks and tanks. Dead Man's Corner Museum should be on your itinerary, it's where you'll see Dick Winter's (Band of Brothers)uniform on display. There's very much a carnival atmosphere about the place, though there are more sombre moments as ceremonies are held here & there. I'm a member of a couple of French associations that hold ceremonies of their own. Picauville is one, while the other's in Picardie.
The museum at Montormel is a must-see too. Possibly the most important stage of the Battle of Normandy came to a close here, at Falaise.
The gun batteries at Pointe du Hoc, Merville and others are always worth visiting to get an idea of the scale of the defences the allies had to overcome.
Thanks Stu. That's a few things pencilled in for me next week. Already decided on Pegasus Bridge, and have been told that I must wear a Welsh Flag/Shirt in the cafe.
Pointe Du Hoc is amazing where the US Rangers had to scale the cliffs and were pinned down on a narrow strip of land for quite a while.
When we were there we based ourselves at a campsite called Le Picard.It is a small campsite,with good facilities, which was great for us as we were only there for two days.
First day we went to Pegasus Bridge and then travelled North to Arromanches.
The next day we went to Sainte-Mere-Eglise and then onto Utah beach and travelled south along the coast line until we got to Omaha beach. We were there early on a Sunday morning and got parked in the town square carpark easily. Have to sit a shiver went down my spine when I got out of the car and saw the dummy of the Paratrooper hanging from the Church Tower, it is so realistic.
Before we left for our holiday I looked up DDay Beach tours on the internet, to see what routes they took.
Also the campsite owner was very helpful.
The whole area is very interesting and to do it in any depth would take at least a week.
Arromanches & the American war cemetery are also a must. However you wont be able to go one day without seeing some memorial of any sorts. They are everywhere by the sides of the road, in tiny villages etc.
The German cemetery is also an eye opener- I was told that the German goverment do not provide funds to the upkeep of 'their' cemetery and it shows. The British and American cemetery are pristine. What is also stark is that quite a bit of the information on the German soldiers even such as their date of birth is lacking- It seems that all records of the individual soldiers did not survive.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: D Day Beaches
