Bayeux – Introduction
Bayeux, famous for its enormous tapestry, is a city relatively unscathed by WWII. So it’s pretty old looking with many old houses and small streets. It also has several monuments and cemeteries dedicated to WWII.
D-Day
Caen – The World War II Memorial
If there’s one thing to be seen in Caen, it’s the Memorial. No kidding, even if you’re not in the region, it’s worth a side trip. And for all of you visiting the D-Day debarkation beaches, you’ll need to pass through Caen anyway, so stop here. Mind you, you’ll need to change your mindset …
Normandy (Upper) – WWI and WWII Memorials and Remnants
Although the Lower part of Normandy saw the biggest brunt of the WWII battles, with D-Day and the immediate battles that followed, the Upper part of Normandy saw its fair share of fighting. And during WWI, it was one of the battlefronts. Therefore throughout Normandy, at almost any hamlet, village, town and city, you will …
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Omaha Beach Cemetery – Introduction
If there is one place in France where you are automatically silenced, it’s the Omaha beach cemetery. This is the place where US soldiers who died during the World War II D-Day are buried (not all of them, “just” 10,000). After the Allies liberated France (and the rest of Europe), the French government donated …
Pegasus Bridge Memorial and Museum
If there was one essential and strategic point during the invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day, by the Allied troops, it would have been the capture of the two bridges in Benouville and the neighbouring Ranville. The two bridges were essential for the liberation of France and the rest of Europe. The operation was called …
Pont L’Eveque – Introduction
Pont L’Eveque in the Calvados region of Normandy is mostly know for two things; its epic 2-3 day battle just after D-Day in WWII and its cheese. But both things are no longer there; the WWII battle is over and done and the Pont L’Eveque cheese is no longer made here. But nevertheless, the village …
Pont L’Eveque – Saint-Michel Church
Pont l’Eveque had been badly destroyed towards the end of World War II, and that went doubly so for the Saint-Michel church. But the town rebuilt their beautiful city, and the 15th century church was restored to its former glory. Pont l’Eveque during WWII saw an epic 3-day battle just after D-Day. 3 days …
Pont l’Eveque – Tips
Transport Getting There Pont l’Eveque lies just alongside the main North-South motorway on the West coast of France. So by car it’s very easy to get there from one of the ferry crossings. By Air There is no airport, the closest ones are Deauville or Caen airport. Within Pont l’Eveque The village is really small, more or less …
Sainte-Mere-Eglise – Introduction
Normally speaking the village of Sainte-Mere-Eglise should mean nothing to most people. Unless you are a WWII buff or a movie buff. The movie in question is “The Longest Day” starring none other than John Wayne trying to get to Sainte-Mere-Eglise during D-Day. The village itself nowadays consists of some 2,500 inhabitants (that is, after …
Utah Beach – Introduction
The names Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold and Juno are names that many WWII buffs will know very well since those are the names of the landing beaches during the D-Day, the Allied invasion of German occupied Europe. 4 years of World War II lead to this massive invasion, by sea and air, of occupied France. …
Utah Beach – WWII Landing Museum
The Utah Beach was one of the D-Day landing beaches, this one mostly staffed with US Army soldiers. It was on the Western edge of the D-Day beaches, and the beach consisted of deep sand and dunes. 3200 soldiers died on the beach that day. To commemorate this occasion, a museum was erected to display and …
