D-Day Landings

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld]

Calling all war buffs!

I'm arranging a trip to the D-Day landing beaches this October. My maternal Grandfather stormed the beach as part of Omaha, before fighting his way through France. My daughter's been studying the landings at school, and I'd like her to see where her great grandfather was involved in such an important part of the second war.

We'll be using the tunnel and driving from Calais. La Ponite Du Hoc seems the logical starting point, so I'd be grateful for any suggestions for places to stay and things to visit! We only have two days/nights so are slightly time limited.

My father will be joining us so I'd like a comfortable hotel, preferably with some decent parking as I'll be taking my Lusso.

Thanks in advance,

Francois

[Truckosaurus]

I did a trip earlier this year. There's plenty of other D-Day/Normandy threads with good advice if you search.

For Omaha I parked up at the American Cemetery and then walked down the hill (past some fortifications) and along the beach area past all the different sites and memorials, it's a couple of miles one way.

The other good places I went to were the Canadian Juno centre and the big museum in Caen.

There's plenty of other museums, with plenty of duplication so don't worry about 'missing out'.

One site I found good for finding smaller locations was https://www.normandywarguide.com/ If you know what unit your grandfather was in then you might find memorials for them.

[mikef]

I've always enjoyed and learned from flying over the beaches before a channel crossing Caen to iOW, looking down at the mulberry harbours

Maybe a quick heli tour from Caen-Carpiquet for orientation? https://www.caenlamer-tourisme.com/leisure/helicop...

[Tabs]

We spent 6 days in Bayeux last year, visiting places in the mornings, and sitting on various beaches in the afternoon.
There are many places to visit, but with only a couple of days, you may as well just drive along the coast and stop as you like.
There is quite a large museum in Bayeux, with a large cemetery opposite, and that would give a good insight to things. A visit to the museum at Caen, looking at the gliders would finish the trip off nicely.
It shouldn't be too busy whenever you go, and we never had a problem parking.

[Voldemort]

Stay here: https://www.ranconniere.fr/

Buy this first: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Normandy-Landing-Beaches-...

[Old Merc]

This has been discussed here a number of times, so plenty of old post to research.

I`ve visited the area twice, there is a lot to see and do so I would allow a few days. My advice is to stick to the old D514 coast road. Say start at the Merville Batteries, go over Pegasus Bridge (Paras Museum) All along the D Day beaches, sword, Juno, stopping at the new British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer.
Continue along the D514, the Arromanches 360 cinema is very interesting. Then go down into Arromanches where there is a big D Day Museum, film show and the remains of the mulberry harbour.
Carry on the D514 to Omaha Beach, the US cemetery is a very moving place. Finally, just along the D514 is Utah beach, not much there though.

As I said, lots to see and do. Do some planning on Google Map, you will find lots of places to stay, take your time, do the research and have a good trip.

[fourstardan]

I will be boarding the ferry to Cherbourg this time next week

Thanks for some of the tips, I've been before for a long weekend and it was all a bit rushed so looking forward to spending a bit more time seeing some sights. We mostly went in for dinner/lunch in Bayeux and didn't do much in Port Bessin, Caen etc.

The good thing is you can take an hour or so at some of the historic marks and move on without taking a full day out. Everywhere you go you'll find something to see/do.

We stayed in a fantastic B&B in Subles last time but have a Gite next week, it really past kids holidays has a lot of great priced options to stay.

With a toddler we've decided to have a week in Normandy this year as a break rather than somewhere with sun/beaches.

Places we'll likely do elsewhere over the week;

-Mont st Michael
-St Malo (possibly)
-Again possibly Paris on the train (2 hours in/out and about 80 quid for all of us from Bayeux)

Weirdly weather on BBC website says 5 degrees cooler next week in Bayeux than Paris?

[Armitage.Shanks]

If you're anywhere near Southwick Park near Portsmouth in the RMP Officers' Mess is the map room where the landings were planned. The Regimental Museum gives escorted tours.

https://theddaystory.com/markers/allied-naval-head...