D-Day and The Battle Of Normandy
D-Day WW2 Sites & Memorials in Normandy
The D-Day Beaches
There Allied Forces landed on five beaches codenamed Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold and Juno. The US military was in charge of taking over the first two beaches, the British took over the second two, while the Canadians were in charge of invading Juno beach.
All five beaches can be visited today. All five have various memorials, museums and other commemorative establishments along them.
Pointe du Hoc
Pointe du Hoc is a cliff between between the Omaha and Utah beaches. During Operation Overlord (D-Day invasion) US Rangers climbed up the cliff and held this strategic point against German counter-attacks in one of the heroic battles of that day.
You can visit Pointe du Hoc today to see the remains of the German fortifications. There is a small museum there as well and a memorial at the very end of the clifftop.
Opening hours: 9am-5pm (6pm during summer months) Check the official website for directions and more information.
The Pegasus Bridge Memorial
During Operation Pegasus, a British infantry unit used gliders to land directly at key bridges along the Caen canal in Normandy. The Bénouville Bridge at the town of Ranville was one of them. Today it's the site of a memorial and museum about the operation. The original bridge was removed in 1994 and is on display on the museum grounds.
Museum opening hours: 10am-5pm (longer hours during summer. Closed between December 15th to February 1st). Admission fees: 7.5 euro (5 for youth) Address: Avenue du Major Howard - 14860 Ranville Website
The Atlantic Wall Sites
The Germans knew that the Allies would eventually attack the coast of France. Hitler's defense strategy included fortifying the entire coastline to create what became known as "The Atlantic Wall". There are several sites you can visit to see the Atlantic Wall in Normandy with these being the most popular -
The Battery of Longues sur Mer
You can visit on your own or join the local tourism office's guided tours at 5 euro per person.
More information about the guided tour here.
The Battery of Azeville
You can pick up a self-guided audio tour from the visitor center or join a guided tour. Opening hours: 10am-7pm during June-August / 11am-6pm during September / 2pm-6pm during April, May & October Admission fees: 5 euro for adult (2 for youth) Website
The Merville Battery
The local museum comes highly recommended and includes a light & sound show in one of the bunkers.
Opening hours: 9:30am-6:30 pm from March 15th until the end of September. Shorter hours during October until mid-November. Closed during winter. Admission fees: 6 euro (3.5 for youth) for museum, exhibitions and park. Partial tickets available. Address: Place du 9ème Bataillon, 14810 14810 Merville-Franceville-Plage Website
The Grand Bunker (The Atlantic Wall Museum)
The original German bunker - six storeys deep! - which commanded the line of artillery batteries along the shores of Normandy. It's now fully restored with authentic artifacts on display.
Opening hours: 10am-6pm (9am-7pm between April and September). Closed during winter. Admission fees: 7 euro (5 for youth). Address: Avenue du 6 Juin, 14150 Ouistreham Website
WW2 Museums in Normandy
It almost seems like every town in Normandy has its own WW2 museum...
The Caen Memorial
The town of Caen was a strategic point fought over by the Germans and Allies for weeks after D-day. Today it's home to one of the largest museums in the area which covers WW1, WW2 and the Cold War.
Opening hours: 9am-7pm (shorter on some months) Admission fees: 19.5 euro (17 for youth) You can get combined tickets for this museum and the Arromanches 360 experience). Address: Esplanade Général Eisenhower, CS 55026, 14 050 Caen Website
Arromanches 360
Not exactly a museum, this place offers a unique cinematique experience with original D-Day footage projected on a 360 degree-screen.
Opening hours: 10am-6pm (shorter on some months). Shows begin at 10 past and 40 past each hour. Admission fees: 5.5 euro (5 for youth) Address: Chemin du Calvaire, 14117 Arromanches les Bains Website
The Airborne Forces Museum
Opening hours: 10am-6pm and longer during some months. Closed between mid-December and February. Admission fees: 8 euro (5 for youth) Address: 14 rue Eisenhower, 50480 Sainte-Mère-Eglise Website
The D-Day Paratroopers Historical Center / The D Day Experience / Dead Man's Corner Museum
Two museums, a trail and a C-47 plane simulator where you can be the paratrooper.
Opening hours: 9:30am-6pm Admission fees: 11 euro (9 for youth). Address: 2, Village de l'Amont, F 50500 Saint-Côme-du-Mont Website
The Overlord Museum
Opening hours: 10am-5pm (longer during summer months. Closed between mid-December and mid-February). Admission fees: 7.5 euro (5.5 for youth) Address: Roundabout access to the American Cemetery, Lotissement Omaha Center F-14710 Colleville sur Mer Website
Musee du debarquement - D-Day Museum
Even if you don't end up visiting the museum, it's worthwhile to stop at the nearby beach where you can see the remains of the original Mulberry harbours (mobile harbours developed for D-Day).
Opening hours: Closed between mid-December and February. Opening hours change, so check their calendar on their website for specific dates. Admission fees: 7.9 euro (5.8 for youth) Address: Place du 6 Juin, 14117 Arromanches Website
Omaha Beach Memorial Museum
Opening hours: 10am-5pm and longer during some months. Closed between mid-December and February. Admission fees: 6.7 euro (3.9 for youth) Address: Avenue de la Libération, 14710 Saint-Laurent-Sur-Mer Website
Utah Beach D-Day Museum
Opening hours: 10am-6pm and longer during some months. Closed between mid-December and February. Admission fees: 8 euro (4 for youth) Address: La Madeleine, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont Website
Juno Beach Centre
A visitor center and park, dedicated to the Canadian invasion at Juno beach.
Opening hours: 9:30am-7pm during summer (shorter hours on other months and closed during January). Admission fees: 11 euro (9 for youth) for museum, exhibitions and park. Partial tickets available. Address: Voie des Français Libres, BP 104, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer Website
D-Day WW2 Cemeteries in Normandy
There are 24 military cemeteries in Normandy and they include British, American, Canadian and even German ones. Although not all of the soldiers who were killed in this area are buried here - many bodies were returned home, at the request of their families - you can still pay your respects to the fallen in these peaceful yet somber places.
Here is a link to the full list of military cemeteries in Normandy and a short description of the three that visitors recommend the most.
Normandy American Cemetery & Memorial
This is the last resting place of 9,387 American soldiers. Among them is President Roosevelt's son, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. who lead the first wave of invasion at Utah beach.
Address: 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer, France
The British War Cemetery at Bayeux
More than 4,000 British Commonwealth soldiers are buried in this cemetery. There is a memorial here as well, with an epitaph in Latin that reads "We, once conquered by William, have now set free the Conqueror’s native land." It's interesting how history plays out, isn't it?
Address: 14400 Bayeux, France
The German Cemetery at La Cambe
This is the largest of all military cemeteries in Normandy with more than 21 thousand graves of German soldiers.
Address : 14230 La Cambe, France
And finally, putting all of these amazing places on one map. If you want to see what's what, just click on the icon in the top left corner.
We're going to choose at least a few items out of this list for our up and coming trip to Normandy. My husband and I are fascinated by the military history but I think we'll have to limit ourselves so that the boys won't get too bored.
If you've visited Normandy and have specific recommendations for us - or if there's anything else you'd like to say! - do leave a comment!
When the cemetery at Colleville was chosen to be the US Cemetery, British soldiers were moved to another cemetery. In the cemetery of Douvres-la-Delivrande 927 British soldiers lie alongside 11 Canadians, 3 Australians, 1 Pole, 1 unidentified body and 180 Germans, buried in a separate plot. These graves belong to men and women who fell on June 6th or the days that followed. In September 2013 I visited my half brothers grave ; a member of the British Army, the first family member able to visit since his death during Operation Sword in 1944. The cemetery is pristine. When I asked the gardener there whether they were hired by the National War Office he said “Oh no. I do this because those who lay here have given me and my family, or freedom. My son will carry it on as I have from my father.” My brother was 19yrs. old and had been married 6mths. WE WILL NEVER FORGET. Jack, may you R.I.P.
Thank you for sharing from your experience of visiting there, Anne. Much appreciated!