A day in Normandy, where to go?

[Cyder]

I know it's been asked a few times before, but the missus and I are getting the Portsmouth - Caen ferry on Friday night arriving at 0645 and we're then due to get the 2300 ferry back on Saturday and are starting to think about what is achievable to see in one day.

We'd like to see the following in no particular order...

Utah Beach Museum (possibly first as it's a furthest from Ouistreham)
Omaha beach and the cemetery there.
Bayeaux tapestry?
Mulberry harbour at Arromanches
A meal in Caen prior to boarding the ferry back.

Is this doable in one day or should we try to do less but take in more? Is there anything else you'd recommend or any tips/places to go that would be recommended?

Thanks in advance!

[Olf]

The two stand-outs for me were

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Mère-&#20...

try walking around the graveyard there without shedding a tear - beautiful and very moving inscriptions on the gravestones.

And Pegasus Bridge and the museum. Fantastic Englishman is the Curator there who does guided tours of the exhibits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_Bridge

[Cyder]

Thanks Olf, the first link looks very interesting.

I think we went to the Pegasus bridge as kids, but I might need to pay another visit to it.

Cheers

[selwonk]

Utah Beach museum is very good, if a little sterile. This place is a corker:

http://www.musee-grand-bunker.com/englishversion.a...

[Old Merc]

That`s a lot to see in a day,I spent over two days just doing the WW2 stuff.My advice is to miss out Utah? its pretty much a repeat of the other museums.Why not start at Pegasus Bridge & museum as its only a few miles from the ferry,then Arromanches (very good museum and video show),US cemetery Colleville sur mar Omaha Beach (its huge,immaculate and a place for quiet reflection) ,Bayeaux and back for your evening meal?? I think that`s more than enough for one day.

[castex]

Looks like it might be the wrong direction, but Deauville is lovely and Trouville next door has a fab place for moules frites called Les Vapeurs.

[Chrisw666]

I'd certainly recommend a trip into Deauville or even a little further to Honfleur for a meal, both are very nice places and full of good places to eat, especially around the Harbour at Honfleur.

[majordad]

I'd skip Utah Beach and it's museum, do it another time. You will be mad rushed even leaving this out. Do your return at Bayeaux. Aromanches Museum, yes , do it and then the American Cemetary above Omaha Beach . As said earlier here, finish up at Pegasus Bridge.

Best books to read IMHO is Citizen Soldiers, or D Day both by Stephen Ambrose.

[Cyder]

Interesting thoughts chaps, thanks, only reason really for going to Utah is that we'll be off the ferry at 7am so will have at least an hour or so to kill before anything opens so thought we may as well drive a bit. Will look at opening times of the other places though!

[majordad]

France does not open nowadays til after 9am so maybe as you say motor up to Utah. There is a good Museum in St. Maire Eglise, just check it s open, it was being renovated, that s about 75-90 mins from the Ferry. I forgot, if going there do Pointe du Hoc Ranger Memorial, it involves a 30 min walk around but ship the museum, do it next time.

And France shops close early at night, 9pm or even 8pm if buying wine.

[PaulHogan]

Don't try to do everything. You'll be rushed and see nothing properly.

From the Ferry to US Cemetary is about an hour via N13
The cemetary opens at 0900. Perhaps stop off in Bayeaux for coffee and croissants.
Read: http://www.abmc.gov/publications/VisitorBrochures/...
and, http://www.abmc.gov/publications/CemeteryBooklets/...

Head to Arromanches-les-Bains for lunch.
The museum on the front is good. If the tide is out you can see the remains of the Mulberry harbour.
The cinema in the round show is 5 stars and must be done.
http://www.memorial-caen.fr/portailgb/index.php?op...

Go to Pegasus Bridge, then to Caen to find somewhere for a late meal. I don't know Caen and would rely on trip advisor. But I do know France on a bank holiday weekend and would strongly urge you to find somewhere now and book it. Every semi decent place will be rammed.

[johnfm]

I would drop the tapestry before anything else. The new museum/ visitor centre at Utah was the best part of my visit last year.

[Cyder]

Well we had a long but very interesting day.

Arrived at 6.45 in Ouistreham and drove straight to Utah. When we got there we found it didn't open until 10am (schoolboy error not checking the times!) so we had a walk along the beach and a look at the memorials.

We decided that rather than wait for it to open (nearly 2hrs) we would head off to Bayeaux.

Had a walk around the market and town before going for a coffee and a pastry and deciding that rather than rush we should leave the tapestry for another day.

From Bayeaux we headed off to a supermarket to stock up on Creme Brulee, Kanoe biscuits and other French grub and wine before continuing on to Omaha beach.

Our first port of call at Omaha was the museum at the western end of the beach which was rather interesting and we then moved on to the fortification at Le Ruquet where the first exit from Omaha was made and then the American Cemetery which was really quite moving and impressive in equal measure.

We then worked our way along the coast stopping at the gun battery at Longues-sur-mer and then Arromanches briefly to see the Mulberry harbour. Sadly we didn't stop at the 3D cinema or museum as we didn't want to rush ourselves.

We carried on stopping off at a couple more beaches and for walk around Port en Bessin before eventually ending up back in Ouistreham for some food and a beer before we got on the ferry back.

It was a cracking day and thankfully we didn't overstretch ourselves but there are definitely things we want to go back and do, namely...

The Bayeaux tapestry
Utah museum
Arromanches 3D cinema
Pegasus bridge
Caen
The British cemetery at Bayeaux

Next time we go will be for more than one day for sure, but apart from Bayeaux and the American cemetery I was really surprised just how quiet it was over there.

ETA, some of the other suggestions such as Pointes du Hox will be taken on board for our next visit too so thanks for those!

Edited by Cyder on Wednesday 11th April 09:34