D Day Beaches
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Land Of Heroes & Conquerors:
D Day Invasion
The landing operation began during the night of the 5th to the 6th of June 1944 when three airborne divisions were dropped on either flank of the front. The paratroops' mission was to capture certain key points: the Merville Battery, the bridge over the Caen canal, roads, locks...
A little later, several hundred Rangers managed to capture the fortified position at the Pointe du Hoc, after a particular daring assault. Meanwhile, between 06.30 and 07.30 hours, 135.000 men and roughly 20.000 vehicles were brought in the sea on five landing beaches as planned.
Although the objectives fixed for the evening of D-Day (Caen, Bayeux, Isigny, Carentan), were not achieved, overall the operation was a success. Except at Omaha Beach (Colleville-Saint-Laurent-Vierville) where despite a show of extraordinary courage from the Americans the beachhead for long hung in the balance, casualties were lighter than expected. If then remained to link up the five assaults beaches and face the German counter-attack.
Just to the south of the Beaches is Caen, which was destroyed in the 2nd World War. A memorial was erected by the city at the center of the Battle of Normandy, which took place in 1944, and takes the form of a Museum for Peace.
Caen - The Allies
The Caen Memorial was born out of the desire to create a place for reflecting on wars on the basis of the experience of the memorable events that took place in Caen and the region during the summer of 1944.
Far from concentrating solely on commemoration, the Memorial, a museum for Peace, presents the stakes involved in the Second World War, and the course and significance of the war. Broadening the perspective, the Memorial covers the second half of the century, and shows how the end of World War II did not signal the end of violence, of all types of violence.
Breaking new ground in museum design, services and technologies, the Memorial places the emphasis on emotion and inciting the visitor to think about war and meditate on this phrase of Elie Wiesel:
"Peace is not a gift from God to man, but a gift from man to himself".
American Cemetery
Overlooking Omaha Beach, the American cemetery contains over 9.000 white crosses perfectly aligned on a 170 acres plot which is conducive to meditation and remembrance. A chapel and a memorial add the finishing touch to this moving scene. The Normandy American Cemetery is one of 14 permanent American World War II military cemeteries on foreign soil. The government of France granted use of this land, in perpetuity, as a permanent burial ground. The graves area contains ten grave plots, five on each side of the main mall. Interred within them are the remains of 9,387 servicemen and women. Three hundred and seven of which are unknown. The precisely aligned headstones against the immaculately maintained emerald green lawn convey an unforgettable feeling of peace and tranquility and remembrance. A beautiful chapel and a memorial add to this moving scene.
La Pointe du Hoc
The symbol of the gallantry of the young American soldiers and one of the strong points of the German fortifications, the famous Pointe du Hoc was taken by storm by Colonel Rudder's 225 Rangers, quite unexpected, landed and heroically scaled the cliffs 90 feet high on the morning of the 6th June 1944. The Rangers struggled on for two long days and when these heroes were finally reinforced by troops which landed on the night of 7th and 8th June, only 90 of them remained, many of whom were wounded. It was a vital position on the Atlantic Wall manned by the troops of Field-marshall Rommel ; its casemates of concrete are several feet thick, contained six 155 mm guns, capable of firing on Omaha Beach and, even further away on Utah Beach at the foot of the Cherbourg Peninsula.
Battery of Longues
This German artillery battery, which gave the allied ships a pounding on the morning of the 6th June 1944, is the only coastal battery to have kept its guns, giving an impressive picture of what an Atlantic Wall gun emplacement was really like.
Customer Reviews
We reviewed our pictures and watched video of our trip over the break and had great memories of our time in France with you. The trip to Normandy and drive thru Paris was really a trip highlight. Want to thank you again for your excellent service and great commentary. We will never forget the trip. I attached a couple of photos that were taken at the cemetery
Ron enjoyed our trip to Normandy so much and it gave him so much pleasure to remember our trip! He loved the history and the sacrifice that Normandy represented and you made the trip so meaningful for him. Thank you for giving us those special moments!
Thanks so much for such a good tour! Our trip was so lovely, informative and we enjoyed our driver/guide very much. He was superb. I felt very much like I was there in 1944 or maybe I was in the middle of a virtual war zone overwhelmed by all the odds against the Allied troops. How brave all of your countrymen were and the countries who came to your aid! Our driver/guide was thorough and interesting, besides very delightful company. Thanks so very much for a wonderful addition to an already superb visit to your beautiful country. It was worth the time and money we spent. Sincerely, RC
Quick Links to Places in Normandy:
D Day Landing Beach Tours
Beyond the Orne are the Landing Beaches of World War II, the 'Mother-of-Pearl' coast and the Cotentin peninsula. Allied forces landed on the coast of Calvados and Manche, D-Day, 6 June 1944. 2004 was the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings and many events were organized to commemorate the event.
Inquiry Form
Semi Private Tours from Paris
Semi Private Option
Your guide will pick you up at your Paris hotel for a journey through the history of World War II. You will travel to the Beach of Normandy in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle.
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198€ pp
Pointe de Hoc
Arromanches
Batteries of Longues
American Cemetery Caen Memorial
Daily Departures at 6:30am Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays
Duration: 12hrs
To book this tour use the Inquiry Form above.
Cost : 195€pp
Includes
Hotel or Apartment Pick Up and Drop Off
Transport by Air-Conditioned Minibus - 8 people maximum
Entrance Fees to Caen Peace Memorial
Visit to PONITE DU HOC, AMERICAN CEMETERY, OMAHA BEACH and ARROMACHE
Lunch not included, but our guide will offer some recommendations
Highlights of your day include :
First you will stop at "The Pointe du Hoc", 90 feet high cliffs, where 225 Rangers landed on the morning of June 6, 1944. It was one of the strong points of the German fortifications.
Then you will continue your day of remembrance and stop at Colleville sur Mer to visit the American Cemetery, Overlooking Omaha Beach, which contains over 9,000 white crosses perfectly aligned on 170 acres. A chapel and memorial add the finishing touches to this moving scene allowing visitors to reflect on the price of war.
You will then leave and stop at other famous WWII locations such as Arromanches and the vestiges of the artificial harbour (Mulberry Bridge), Longues-sur-Mer and the German artillery battery, which gave the allied a pounding on the morning of 6th June. It is actually the only coastal battery to have kept its guns, giving an impressive picture of what an atlantic wall gun emplacement was really like.
Before returning to your Paris hotel, you will visit the Caen Memorial, a place for reflecting on war in general and on what WWII meant, and still means, to the world.
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Scheduled Tours from Paris
Coach Option
During the journey by bus to the Normandy landings, our guide will comment on the history and countryside of the region. Upon arrival, the Normandy tour will cover numerous different sites including la pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American cemetery.Lunch is included.
more details
169€ pp
Visit to Caen Memorial Lunch at Caen Memorial Visit to the Pointe du Hoc Visit to the American cemetery and Omaha beach Stopover Arromanche
April 1st to October 31st: 7.00am Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
November 1st to March 31st: 7:00am Wednesday and Saturday
Duration: 14hrs
172€pp Secure Online Booking & Details
While dedicated to peace, the memorial devotes itself to illustrations and films about the Second World War and the Normandy landings of June 1944.
Lunch (drinks included) at the Memorial.
The afternoon begins with a visit to the Pointe du Hoc followed by the American cemetery of Saint-Laurent at Colleville where 9,386 soldiers are buried. The schedule (1hour) allows for a walk on Omaha Beach, below the cemetery, or a visit to the new « Visitor Centre » built in 2007.
A bus ride along the coast takes you to Arromanches and the ruins of the artificial port built by the allies in less than 15 days.
Thoughout the day, our guide will be providing commentary on all sites and explain how D-Day and the Battle of Normandy unfolded.
Entrance ticket included.
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Private Tours from Paris
Take a private tour with our highly experienced bilingual licensed driver guide to Normandy and visit the famous sites of the D Day Invasion.
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After passing Caen, we take direction Arromanches to visit the remains of the artificial harbour (that the Allies built in England and towed to France). In Arromanches we will watch a documentary, "the Price of Freedom", at a 360 degree movie theater, then onto Longues sur Mer to see the canons and bunkers of Longues (the only coastal batteries that are still in the same spot where they were when the fired on the Allies on D Day).
We drive to Port en Bessin (the Petrol Harbour where one of the pipelines of the Allies came out) which is a good spot for lunch.
After lunch we visit of the American Cemetery at Colleville (emotional moment), then drive to Omaha beach to see the remains of the German bunkers (that will give you a very realistic vision of the difficulties of the American soldiers that landed there).
To finish the tour, visit of the Pointe du Hoc, visually without doubt the most impressive spot of the Landing Beaches.
Drive back to Paris (arrival around 19h30).
Other itineraries possible
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Private Tours from Bayeaux
Take the train to Bayeaux and save 3hrs of road time. Our local guide will pick you up and take you a private tours so you spend long on tour than getting there. American, Canadian and British routes possible,
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Departures : Daily
Duration: 8hrs
US Highlights
Ste-Mère-Église > US Airborne Museum (optional) > Utah Beach - Tare and Uncle Sectors > Utah Beach Memorials > Angoville-au-Plain > La Pointe-du-Hoc > Omaha Beach - Dog Green Sector> Omaha Beach - Easy Red Sector > Omaha Beach Memorials> US Military Cemetery
This tour begins at Ste-Mère-Église and looks at the US 82nd Airborne sector on the Western flank of the invasion. The tour then moves into the Utah Beach sector concentrating on the beach landings of the US 4th Division and then the U.S 101st Airborne Division. The tour moves East along the coast to the Omaha Beach sector and visits the famous sites of Pointe-du-Hoc, Omaha Beach and finally the U.S Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer overlooking Omaha Beach. This tour has been designed to give an excellent overview of the U.S involvement on D-Day.
US Airborne
Drop Zones T, O, N 82nd Airborne > La Fière Bridge > Cauquiny > Amfréville > Ste-Mère-Église > Ste-Mère-Église U.S Airborne Museum > Marmion Farm > Drop Zones A, C, D 101st Airborne > Brécourt Manor > Ste-Marie-du-Mont > Hiesville > Angoville-au-Plain > Dead Man’s Corner > Carentan Causeway> Graignes
This tour begins on the Western flank of the U.S Airborne sector. Paratroopers dropped into Normandy from 01.00 on 6th June 1944 and began securing towns, villages and bridges. This tour has been designed to give a good overview of the U.S Airborne involvement on D-Day and the action that followed in this very dangerous hedgerow area of the invasion. All drop zones are visited as well as the famous Ste-Mère-Église and Band of Brothers sites. Many other stops are added where various battles took place.
US Beaches
The Crisbecq Battery > Utah Beach - Les Dunes de Varaville > Utah Beach Museum (optional) > Utah Beach Memorials > La-Pointe-du-Hoc > Omaha Beach - Dog Green Sector > Omaha Beach - Cemetery No. 1 > Omaha Beach - Easy Red Sector > Omaha Beach - WN62 Battery > Omaha Beach Memorials > US Military Cemetery
This tour begins on Utah Beach concentrating on the beach landings of the US 4th and 90th Divisions and the advance inland looking closely at the German defensive strategy. The tour moves to the Omaha Beach sector, landing area for the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions and 2nd and 5th Rangers, and visits the famous sites of Pointe-du-Hoc, Omaha Beach and finally the U.S Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer overlooking Omaha Beach. This tour has been designed to give an excellent overview of the U.S beach landings on D-Day and the ensuing advance.
British and Canadian Highlights tour available as well.
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Semi Private Tours from Caen
Take the TGV to Caen where your guide will pick you up and take you to the Caen Memorial Museums abd D Day Beaches.
more details
Caen Memorial Arromanches and Artifical Port Battery at Longues sur Mer in the British Section
and then Batteries of Longues US Cemetary in Colleville Sur Mer Omaha Beach Pointe de Hoc
Meetin Time at 8:55am from Monday till Friday, 9.51 am on Saturdays, 10.57 am on Sundays
Duration: 9hrs
To book this tour use the Inquiry Form above.
Cost : 245€pp
Includes
Train Station Pick Up and Drop Off
Transport by Air-Conditioned Minibus - 8 people maximum
Entrance Fees to Caen Peace Memorial plus Lunch with drinks
Visit to PONITE DU HOC, AMERICAN CEMETERY, OMAHA BEACH and ARROMACHE
Description
* pick up at your arrival at the Caen railway station . Driver will hold a signbaord in the main hall of the Railway Station infront. 15minute drive to Museum
* a guided visit of the 2nd World War area of the Museum which starts at 9:30/9:45am after refreshinig yourself. Your guide has a mic which connects to your personal headphone so you can hear clearly.
WW2 90 minutes tour. Ends 11:15pm
*11:20am - 12:00 Film about D-Day and the Battle of Normandy( June 6 to August 21st). Includes the preparation of the landing from both the German and Allies' point of view. At the end the tour guide will meet you and take you to the restaurant.
* 12:00 - 13:00 Lunch at the Museum - 3 course with soft drinks and coffee.
* 12:00 - 14:00 Free time to visit the Cold War area, American Gardens and other areas of the museum and gift shop
* 13:55 (up to 7 passengers )Depart for the landing beaches from main hall under the Typhoon Plane hanging from the ceiling Take all your things with you. 1st Stop Arromanches and Artifical Port - Battery at Longues sur Mer in the British Section - US Cemetary in Colleville Sur Mer - and then Omaha Beach - Points du Hoc
* return to the train station directly at about 6.00 pm (from October till March), or optional overnight in Bayeaux
* 7.15 pm (from April till September) in Caen
Optional:
* 6:30pm Drop off and overnight with breakfast in Bayeaux at Hotel Lion d'Or or Churchill drop off.
* Next morning visit Bayeaux Tapestry + WW Weapon Museum any time with entries included
* Private taxi to the train station. When ever you are ready you ask the hotel to call the taxi for return from Bayeaux
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