"Must sees in Normandy D-day visit?" Topic

Me and my wife are planning a 3 day trip as a late birthday present (for me). There is a huge array of possible museums/sites available. I'm sure several TMPers must have been, so what would you recommend to see or give a miss. I'm particulary interested in WWII land warfare, dioramas, AFVs, weapons and uniforms.

Normandy is awesome. I'm sure you'll get a lot of good advice on D-day stuff.

If I were to go again I'd find my way to Chambois. My dad was with the 90th infantry closing the Falaise gap and there are a few things there. That's not D-day.

I'm not sure whether you want a break from WW2 at all, but the Bayeux tapestry is worth a visit and is pretty nearby.

Whatever you see, you're going to have a great time.

not in Normandy but this is one of the coolest thinks I saw on my trip to france link . and here is what might interest you in Normandy link

Hi Paul,

Some previous threads here:

TMP link

TMP link

TMP link

TMP link

My faves (Absolute unmissable must-sees are marked with * and free-to-enter places are marked +):

British Airborne Bridgehead:

Pegasus Bridge*+ (including Cafe Gondree* & Memorial Pegasus Museum*)
Merville Battery*
Ranville War Cemetery+

Sword Beach:

Strongpoint Hillman+ (you can go in any time, but they open the bunkers on saturdays)
The Grand Bunker Museum, Ouistreham
Hermanville-sur-Mer Beach+

Juno Beach:

The Canada House, St Aubin-sur-Mer*
Courseulles-sur-Mer
The free cider-tasting stall on the main road to Gold Beach…*+

Gold Beach:

Ver-sur-Mer & the Green Howards' shed+
The Mulberry Harbour viewpoint between Asnelles and Aromanches.*+
The Musee du Debarquement, Arromanches (and the town itself).
Longues-sur-Mer Battery*+
Bayeux City*+ (including the Tapestry*)
Bayeux War Cemetery*+ (park next to the museum, though the museum is no longer very good)

Omaha:

US Cemetery*+
Strongpoint WN-62*+ (Colleville-Plage – walk down from the cemetery car park – the bunkers and trenches are below the 1st Division memorial pinnacle)
Dog Beach*+ (western end of Omaha Beach)
There are lots of museums around here of varying quality, including a big new one that I haven't had time to visit.
Pointe du Hoc Battery*+

Utah:

Ste Mere Eglise*+ (including the Airborne Museum*)
Dunes de Varaville bunker complex (park at the Division Leclerc memorial Sherman and follow the dunes north)*+
Utah Beach Muesum, La Madelline*
Brecourt Manor (tricky to find if you don't have a map or guide book – follow the road from Utah Beach to Ste Marie-du-Mont and turn right at the Dick Winters statue on the crest of the hill. After 200 yards you'll see a memorial on your left. Park there and follow the lane next to the memorial for 200 yards until you reach the farm – the field where the battery was is through the gate on your right; Winters attacked from the far side of the field)

If you have the time, there are plenty of inland sites to visit, though you need a fair bit of knowledge (or a good guide), plus good maps and/or guide books.

I can e-mail you the handouts and itineraries I use for the cadet tours if you pm me with your email address (beware that some are large files).

Idontbelieveit,

Chambois always features on my cadet tours (we were there last year on the 70th anniversary). Do you have your dad's story? I'll tell it when I next take the cadets there (probably in 2017, as we're going to Ypres next year).

@JF – what's your email address?

IDBI,

In a vain effort to evade the spam-bot, you can find my e-mail address near the bottom of the page here: link

I recommend looking at as many pictures of then as possible and then try to find them today. I did that and it was a real added bonus.

The church at Angoville au Plain is worth seeing because it was an aid station for the 101st and the blood stained pews are still there from the causalities. Tremendous story about it and the two medics who ran it.

Terry

Indeed. I use a lot of photos in my handouts and it makes the scene come alive for the kids when they can spot something in a photo that's still there. Hermanville-sur-Mer and the Canada House at St Aubin are great in that regard – lots of then'n'now shots to be found.

Thanks everybody.