© Philippe DELVAL / Erick GERVAIS of theD-Day LandingBeaches and the Battle VISITORS’ GUIDE CONFERENCES, DEBATES AND VILLAGE FOR PEACE

An annual event held each year in June - ABBAYE AUX DAMES

MORE INFORMATION ON NORMANDYFORPEACE.COM Destination D-DAY

On June 6th 1944, and during the long summer which followed, men from the world over came to fight in Normandy to defeat Nazism and to re-establish Freedom. Normandy will bear the scars of this moment in history for ever, and every year we remember and pay tribute to the veterans from America, Britain, , , , Holland, , , , and to their brothers in arms, to those many heroes who lost their lives here during that summer of 1944, and are at rest in the cemeteries to be found throughout the area. It is often forgotten that the people of Normandy also paid a heavy price in those terrible battles. This edition is designed as a practical guide to help you plan your visit. It encourages you to discover, or rediscover the main memorial sites, the cemeteries, the key places and the museums of Destination D-Day 1944 Land CONFERENCES, DEBATES of Liberty. These important places are today imbued with fundamental and universal values AND VILLAGE FOR PEACE such as Reconciliation, Peace and Freedom. Each anniversary year is the occasion to pay tribute to the many veterans who, once more, An annual event held each year in June will come to attend the commemorative events CAEN ABBAYE AUX DAMES and celebrations organised in Normandy. Our hope is that your visit will present a special moment for you to share as a family MORE INFORMATION ON With the support of with your children and your grandchildren.

NORMANDYFORPEACE.COM Welcome to Normandy!

14 Rue Charles Corbeau, 27000 Évreux [email protected] 2 Contents Guide pages 4 THE ALLIES PREPARE FOR D-DAY after the disaster at 4 Sainte-Mère-Église 10 20 Arromanches 28 Courseulles-sur-Mer 34 Bridge 36 The first town to be liberated in mainland France 42 CHERBOURG The port of Cherbourg, a strategic objective 44 FROM SAINT-LÔ Capital of ruins to 46 CAEN Six weeks of fighting 50 Chambois 56 NORMANDY WILL BEAR THE SCARS OF WAR for a long time 60

Practical pages 64 D-DAY FESTIVAL NORMANDY Activities and Events 64 EXCURSIONS Guided 66 EUROPE REMEMBERS 68 MAP Museums, natural attractions and military cemeteries 69 INDEX Communes and military cemeteries Fold out CONTENTS 3

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CAEN Parking Picnic Area N°67- C3 Bus parking Snacks The colour denotes the N° of the Disabled Access Animals allowed type of place : place on the map Tours accessible to Animals not allowed Museum the hearing-impaired Location of the place Toilets Picnics not allowed Natural attraction on the map Shop No pushchairs permitted Military cemetery ANCV cheques Insert for Mobile app mobile apps

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« Quality Tourism, a national Normandy Quality Tourism and Disability brand of confidence » Tourism The brand guarantees State label awarded to tourism professio- A regional label recognised efficient service perfectly nals for the quality of their services. by the governments adapted to the essential as part of its plan for needs of the disabled Quality Tourism

To consult all the most recent information on the sites and museums covered by this edition, head to www.normandy-dday.com 4 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Dieppe

The , 19th August 1942 After the disaster at Dieppe, the Allies prepare for D-Day

he Dieppe Raid, on These were manufactured on the August 19th 1942, brought other side of the Atlantic, and then heavy losses for the stocked in different camps across troops involved, but at southern England. Photographs the same time yielded a of the Normandy coast were Tlarge amount of information for taken almost daily by planes and the Allies’ intelligence services. submarines. Much vital information Jubilee – the codename given to the (about German defences and/or Dieppe Raid – was the first major the movement of troops) was also reconnaissance expedition carried transmitted by resistance fighters out by Allied troops, particularly risking their lives. Canadian, and was destined to test the German defences along While the American and British the French coast. In human terms, were relentlessly manufacturing it was a calamity. Furthermore, assault craft and the failure of the operation was parts, from the spring of 1944, exploited by the Nazi propaganda Allied planes started a systematic machine to demonstrate the bombardment of road and rail invincibility of the . infrastructure in northwest France. The idea of a landing on the French The fateful day was fixed for the coast was an old one. “We will beginning of June – the 5th, or return” were the words of Winston failing that the 6th or 7th – these Churchill in June 1940, when his days being ones that met crucial troops escaped from and conditions, consisting of a dawn returned to English soil. assault in the middle of a rising tide, being the enemy to defeat as a following a night with a full moon priority, industrial production was for parachutists. The codename for diverted towards the war effort: this great landing operation was barges, , planes and so on. also chosen: . For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 5 BÉNERVILLE-SUR-MER N°03 - C3 > Mont gun batteries At an altitude of 110 m, Mont Canisy dominates the Bay of the and the port of . This strategic position caused it to be used first as a French battery in 1940, then as a German battery, -BLANGY composed of six French 155 mm N°01 - E2 guns housed in silos. Two British cruisers, the Warspite and the Ra- > V1 Launch millies, together with Allied planes, were tasked with neutralising the Sites gun batteries on the Côte Fleurie, After the disaster including the one on Mont Canisy. DIEPPE AT AFTER THE DISASTER This historical V1 hiking trail The Germans abandoned it without takes in the remnants of 21 V1 a fight during the night of 21st to 22nd launch sites scattered around the August 1944. , and Yères Valleys. The V1 at Dieppe flying bombs were constructed by A large network of underground galleries the German Army with the aim of ARDOUVAL (250 metres long, 15 metres beneath the the Allies prepare for D-Day reaching as far as and des- surface) can be visited thanks to a team of N°02 - E2 troying it. volunteers who conduct guided tours. > Le Val Ygot Explanatory panels provide visitors to each OPENING TIMES site with informative relevant details. At In the Eawy forest at Val-Ygot the Open for free all year round. the Guerville - Poteau de Montauban Site, launch base for V1s built in 1943 you can view life-size replicas of a launch on an 8 acre site includes 13 buil- VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES catapult and a V1 flying bomb. To add dings (hangars, workshops and Parking available historical interest for walkers, a free mobile the launch ramp). This memorial You are recommended to bring a torch app (LEGENDR, available via the App Store place from The Second World War Free guided tours from April to October at and Google Play) contains photos, videos, is open all year and freely acces- 2.30pm (duration: 2 hours) [FR/GB] testimonials and more. Guided tours are sible. > Tour of the surface workings and also available on request. underground galleries Explanatory panels give essential Meet at 2.30pm on the square at the ‘Belvédère’ VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES information to visitors. Guided tours are Gates open at 2pm These sites are accessible to also available upon request. > Tours as in the programme available in visitors year-round, and for free. Tourist O˜ces and year-round for groups only Guided tours are only available for OPENING TIMES on reservation. the Guerville or Campneuseville sites, Open all year All dates can be viewed on the website by request. Lasts: 1 hr. Tours are free mont-canisy.org Parking available at the site in Guerville VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Freely accessible. Free guided tours from the 1st Sunday of April to September; groups every day by prior CONTACT CONTACT appointment at 3€ per person. Tourist Oce Oce de Tourisme communautaire Duration 1 1/2 hrs. 32 bis avenue Michel d’Ornano Aumale / Blangy 14910 BLONVILLE-SUR-MER 20 Rue de Barbentane +33 (0)2 31 87 91 14 76340 Blangy-sur-Bresle [email protected] +33(0)2 35 17 61 09 CONTACT www.mont-canisy.org [email protected] Association ASSVYA www.v1histoireetpatrimoine.fr Mme Françoise DAUZOU www.tourisme-aumale.blangy.fr +33 (0)6 84 29 67 05 [email protected] 6 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com FÉCAMP N°05 - D2 > The Blockhouses of Cape Fagnet Built on the orders of the German army, the blockhouses of Cape Fagnet formed part of the famous Atlantic Wall erected from 1942. A visit of these reinforced concrete constructions gives a better un- derstanding of the role of this important watch post. It is also a chance to look at the question of the economic collaboration invol-

AFTER THE DISASTER AT DIEPPE AT AFTER THE DISASTER ved in this military edifice. The second part of the circuit allows you to follow a narrow hiking trail through the woods to reach the so-called ‘German military hospital’ dug into the rock. Arm yourself with walking shoes and warm clothes. DIEPPE HORAIRES N°04 - E2 From March to May: OPENING TIMES Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays From May to September: check programme > Memorial 2pm > 6pm In July and August: every Wednesday and th May to September: Saturday at 3pm of the 19 daily except Tuesdays 2pm > 6pm TOURS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) August 1942 October to November: Adults: €5 or €3 Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays Children (under 18) free At dawn on August 19th 1942 an 2pm > 6pm Reservation required for groups. Allied armada headed towards Free for those aged under 18 Dieppe as part of Operation Ju- VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) bilee, a raid on a huge scale. It in- Tour of about 1 1/2 hours including a 40 mi- volved nearly 6000 men, mainly nute (INA archive) video film and displays of Canadian, over a quarter of whom documents, photos, uniforms and weapons. CONTACT would lose their lives. The Ju- Adults: €3.50 / Children (under 16): Free Cap Fagnet Blockhouse bilee Association and the town of Groups (of more than 10 people, by appoint- Maison du patrimoine Dieppe have been paying tribute to ment): €3 per person 10 rue des Forts these men since 2002 at the Memo- 76400 Fécamp rial of August 19th 1942. Visits here +33 (0)2 35 10 60 96 take an hour and a half and include [email protected] a 40 minute long film from the CONTACT www.ville-fecamp.fr INA archives, and a collection of Mémorial du 19 Août 1942 documents, photos, uniforms and Place Camille Saint-Saëns - 76200- Dieppe weapons. At the end of your visit Marcel Diologent : +33 (0)6 65 67 90 40 you may also buy a cartoon about [email protected] the raid at the Memorial shop. Daniel Jaspart : +33 (0)2 35 83 70 65 [email protected] The Memorial is situated in the old municipal Contact for groups : +33 (0)6 95 61 10 52 theatre of Dieppe, built in 1826 by the town www.dieppe-operationjubilee-19aout1942.fr of Dieppe for the Duchess of Berry. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 7

FORGES-LES-EAUX N°06 - E2 > The Normandy Resistance LE TRÉPORT Museum N°08 - E1 40 km/25 miles from , > Kahl Burg 50 km/30 miles from Beauvais and

80 km/50 miles from , the In the midst of the chalk cliffs of DIEPPE AT AFTER THE DISASTER Resistance and Deportation mu- N°07 - D3 the Alabaster Coast and just a few seum at Forges-les-Eaux offers a re- kilometres from the site of the trospective of the dark years of the > The Station Dieppe landings, Kahl-Bürg is si- Second World War through docu- tuated 60 metres above sea level, ments, uniforms and sundry objects Blockhouse about 20 metres below the ground, displayed on two floors. France and and is 270 metres long. Of about its empire in the war, the Allies, mi- One of the last vestiges of The thirty rooms, you can visit three litary operations; Germany and Na- Second World War in Honfleur observation posts, a battle position zism, collaboration; Deportation and stands close to the Carnot Ba- still armed with its 75 mm gun, as the Resistance, from De Gaulle’s call sin. Thanks to efforts of the town well as a German army command to arms of June 18th 1940 through to council and the Honfleur 1939 – post. (245 and 348 ID). the Liberation. 1945 Association, since 2014 it has become a place of commemoration The place is imbued with the sužering of Designed with education always in mind the where memories can be shared. In the prisoners, mainly Ukrainian women, museum is particularly oriented towards ol- a blockhouse of 3,500 square feet who built it. Its architecture of vaulted brick der schoolchildren and students. you will find more than 50 period corridors is unique in the Atlantic Wall. uniforms, documents and pho- OPENING TIMES tographs, a 45 minute film with VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES Open every day from 2pm to 6pm eye witness accounts of the Libe- Visits are free. EXCEPT Mondays and Tuesdays ration, and a tribute to the three The facility, which remains in its original from April to September FFI (resistance) police officers state, is not unfortunately accessible to the EXCEPT Sundays and Mondays arrested here and shot on August handicapped. from October to March 24th 1944. GROUPS by prior arrangement, Visit duration: 1 hour morning or afternoon OPENING TIMES Bring warm clothes and walking shoes Weekends from start June to end August (constant temperature of 11°) TOURS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) 2.30pm > 6.30pm 5 € per person for individuals 4 € per person for groups TOURS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) 2 € for school groups Adult member - benefactor for a tour: €4 CONTACT Accompanied children up to 12 years old: free Le Kahl-Bürg Groups (by appointment): from €3 Rue du 08 mai 1945 76470 LE TREPORT CONTACT +33 (0)6 81 07 22 95 Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation www.kahl-burg.fr Rue du Maréchal Leclerc, 76440 FORGES-LES-EAUX CONTACT +33 (0)2 35 90 64 07 Blockhaus de la Gare (if contacting us by telephone please call Bassin Carnot between 2 and 6pm) 14600 Honfleur [email protected] +33 (0)7 83 25 76 12 www.normandyresistancemuseum.com honfl[email protected] www.facebook.com/museeforgesleseaux www.blockhausdelagare.fr 8 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

MANNEVILLE-SUR-RISLE PALUEL ST-JOUIN-BRUNEVAL N°09 - D3 N°10 - D2 N°11 - D2 > The Resistance > The Alabaster > The Bruneval

AFTER THE DISASTER AT DIEPPE AT AFTER THE DISASTER and Deportation Memorial Memorial Museum This is a place steeped in history, its During the night of February 27th strategic position making it a key to 28th 1942, Operation Biting, also Opened in 1979, the Resistance element in the Atlantic Wall. The known as the Bruneval raid, was a and Deportation museum is a networks of bunkers assured the de- success : a British detach- showcase for the fruit of the re- fence of the seafront and the estuary ment succeeded in getting hold of the search carried out by the associa- of Veulettes sur Mer by the army of main parts of a German radar (whose tion of the same name. Founded in occupation, as well as being a state- technology was then unknown to the 1972 its aim was to collect docu- of-the-art air defence. The path is Allies) whilst making out that it had ments and objects relating to this therefore punctuated by bunkers, been destroyed. Situated on the site of period in France’s history in the which are visible through the old the German defences which secured department of Eure. The museum trenches which have been partially the access to the beach, the Bruneval particularly puts the spotlight on rebuilt, three of which have been Memorial was unveiled by Kenneth the activity of the most active re- converted into interpretative areas Holden, one of the last surviving vete- sistance network in Upper Nor- on the following themes: “The his- rans of the raid. A project of the Bru- mandy, the Surcouf Maquis. tory of the German military base neval 42 association it was designed at Paluel”, “The Atlantic Wall and by the architect Bruno Saas and built OPENING TIMES life under occupation for the local by the town of Saint-Jouin-Bruneval. Open Sundays and public holidays populace”, “The place of memory”. from April to September Signs translated into English and VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES German. Free access all year VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES Free Entrance With a stunning view of the Durdent estuary, the beach of Veulettes sur Mer and the cližs of the Catelier, Pont Rouge ožers CONTACT you a unique heritage tour combining an Mémorial de Bruneval CONTACT exploration of biodiversity and relics of the Chemin André Haraux Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation Second World War. 76280 SAINT-JOUIN-BRUNEVAL Mairie de Manneville-sur-Risle Mairie de Saint-Jouin-Bruneval +33 (0)2 32 56 94 86 OPENING TIMES AND TOURS +33(0)2 35 13 10 10 [email protected] Open access year round [email protected] Walking path of less than 1km including a www.bruneval42.com section accessible to the disabled. Free guided tours between April and October.

CONTACT Oce de tourisme +33(0)2 35 97 00 63 www.cote-albatre-tourisme.fr For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 9

CHAMPIGNY-LA-FUTELAYE N°12 - E4 > German military DIEPPE AT AFTER THE DISASTER cemetery

This German military cemetery contains the graves of German soldiers who died in the depart- ments of Eure, , Seine-Mari- time, Eure-et-Loir, and in the for- mer department of Seine-et-. 19836 German soldiers rest here in 17 differently sized squares of lawn. It was inaugurated on Sep- tember 12th 1964.

HAUTOT-SUR-MER > Dieppe N°13 - E2 Canadian War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

Allied combatants who died on the beaches of Dieppe during The Se- cond World War are interred in this cemetery maintained by The Com- monwealth War Graves Commission. About thirty British soldiers were bu- ried here in 1940. After the raid of Au- gust 19th 1942 the Germans buried the Canadian and English casualties here. The cemetery was made permanent in 1949 with 955 graves of soldiers from Canada, the UK, , Australia, Poland and a sole Indian. All of the gravestones are arranged back to back in symmetrical rows. 10 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Sainte-Mère-Église

The parachutists of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were tasked with capturing Sainte-Mère-Église and Utah securing the bridgehead at Utah Beach Beach Sainte-Mère-Eglise

hronologically, there Mère-Église and securing the were three definable beachhead at Utah Beach. At 4 am, phases to the operation Sainte-Mère-Église was stormed. on June 6th 1944: the air landings (which were At first light, the sea from the mouth Ccentred on Utah Beach in the west of the Seine to the Cherbourg and Sword Beach in the east), the Peninsula was completely covered air and naval bombardments of the with ships. Thousands of craft Atlantic Wall, and the seaborne carrying men, vehicles and landings on the five beaches (Utah, equipment, pushed their way Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword) and towards the coast, while at the same at Pointe du Hoc. time Allied aircraft bombarded the along the Channel So it was that by the early hours of coast, and naval guns opened fire. the 6th June, the first airborne troops Men headed towards the coast on had already set foot on the soil of the greatest endeavour of their Normandy: the British in the east, lives. Utah Beach was rapidly and the Americans in the west. taken without too many losses. The German defences were soon The American parachutists of the overcome, and breaches opened up 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions to allow troops and heavy equipment were tasked with capturing Sainte- to advance. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 11 SAINTE-MARIE-DU-MONT N°14 - B3

Up to November 2020: temporary exhibition on ‘Utah Beach, Then and Now’

Utah Beach / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH OPENING TIMES D-Day Landing From October 1st to May 30th 10am to 6pm From June 1st to September 30th Museum 9.30am to 7pm Ticket o˜ce closes one hour before museum closes Built on the very spot where American troops landed on June 6th 1944, the D-Day Landing museum re- Annual closure from December 1st – 25th counts the events of D-Day in ten sequences, from inclusive and December 31st and January 1st its planning right through to its success. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) On an in depth chronological tour you can get really Adults: 8 € / Concessions: 7€ involved in the history of the Landing and discover Children 6-15 yrs: 5 € a rich collection of objects, vehicles, and equipment. Visit duration: 1 1/2 hrs Star of the museum is an authentic American Ma- Groups of adults (min 20 people) rauder B26 bomber which is displayed in a special- Unaccompanied visit: 6.50 € ly designed hangar. By watching the film “Victory Groupes scolaires (min 20 people) Beach” you can relive the epic effort of the Ameri- Unaccompanied visit: 4 € can soldiers in this decisive battle, which was the Guided tour +1,50€ biggest amphibious operation in military history. Complete guided tour (with reservation) 4€ Hearing the moving accounts of the veterans, you will get a real idea of their sacrifice which made Eu- Bookings: [email protected] rope free once more. Free: Children under 6 yrs old, People accompanying the disabled

CONTACT Musée du Débarquement Utah Beach 50480 SAINTE-MARIE-DU-MONT +33 (0)2 33 71 53 35 [email protected] www.utah-beach.com 12 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE N°15 - B3

From April to November 2020: Temporary exhibition ‘La Guerre s’a‡che’, or France

UTAH BEACH / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH Airborne in the Second World War Seen Through Museum Propaganda Posters. OPENING TIMES From May to August: 9am > 7pm With its spectacular presentation, The Airborne April and September: 9. 30am > 6. 30pm Museum lets you experience the invasion alongside October to March: 10am > 6pm the American of the 82 nd and 101st Closed December and January, except during Airborne Divisions. You’ll find an amazing collection French school holidays of historical objects, as well as a real glider and a C-47 aircraft, both of which took part in the D-Day VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) operations. (histopad included) Adults: 9.90 € You can board a real C-47 aircraft by night and relive Children (6 to 16 yrs): 6 € the parachute drops of June 6th 1944, dropping into Family the square of Sainte-Mère-Eglise in the midst of the (2 adults and 2 children paying minimum) fighting Adults: 9 € Children (6 to 16 yrs): 5 € New: Travel back in time with Histopad!

Thanks to the augmented reality, interactivity and hyper-realistic graphics of a tablet, you will be transported to the midst of Normandy in 1944 and experience the main events of the D-Day invasion. CONTACT For example, you will be able to watch gliders landing Airborne Museum and be witness to an iconic battle, that of “La Fiere”. 14 rue Eisenhower 50480 Sainte-Mère-Eglise +33 (0)2 33 41 41 35 [email protected] www.airborne-museum.org For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 13 SAINT-CÔME-DU-MONT N°16 - B3

SINCE JUNE 2019 To extend the experience, sit back in our cinema, put on your 3D glasses and explore the ins and outs of the invasion from a new perspec-tive through the film D-Day D-DAY Normandy 1944. Benefiting from the latest technologies, / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH Experience shown on a Giant 3D screen, this 36-minute docu-mentary o­ers a total immersion, unique in Normandy! A major objective for the Allies, the taking of Carentan was crucial to ensure the linkup of the troops landing on Utah OPENING TIMES Beach and Omaha Beach. This mission was assigned to Open 7 days a week – warm welcome the paratroopers of the 101st US Airborne , who October 1st to March 31: 10:00 am – 06:00 pm would soon face their German counterparts, the fearsome April 1st to September 30: 09:30 am – 07:00 pm Fallschirmjä-ger – this was the clash of the paratroops. Lo- Annual closing: December 24, 25, 31, 2019, Ja- cated in Saint-Côme-du-Mont, whose capture was a ne- nuary 1st, 2020 and from January 6 to 12, 2020 cessary precondition for the liberation of Carentan, D-Day Last admission one hour before closing time Experience is the only museum to offer a double perspective of the events. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Individuals – 2 museums and simulator Learn about the preparations for the jump over Normandy Adult: €13 and attend Lt. Col. Wolverton’s briefing prior to boarding a Child from 6 to 16: €9 genuine C-47 converted into a unique flight simulator – now Individuals – 2 museums and simulator you’re about to relive the crossing of the . + cinema Thanks to a modern and immersive museography, which Adult: €19 will offer a new exhibit of more than 5,300 square-feet from Child from 6 to 16: €15 June 2019, follow the footsteps of the American paratroo- Free for tour guides and bus drivers pers from D-Day to the liberation of Carentan on June 12, Gratuité pour guides et chau·eurs. 1944. Duration of visit: 2 hours (+1 hour with Cine-ma) Then discover the historic house located at the so-called ‘Dead Man’s Corner’ – a place requisi-tioned by the Fallschir- mjäger on D-Day and subsequently used as a command post and first aid post for a couple of days, until it was captured by CONTACT the Americans. D-DAY EXPERIENCE 2, Village de l’Amont Since June 2019, to better understand the stakes and view 50 ¸500 Saint-Côme-du-Mont, the confrontation in the wider context of the invasion and CARENTAN-LES-MARAIS the ensuing Battle of Normandy, the 3 D film D-Day Nor- +33 (0)2 33 23 61 95 mandy 1944 will be shown on a screen to offer an unprece- [email protected] dented visual and audio experience... Museum, a flight simu- www.dday-experience.com lator and a movie theater – D-Day Experience: don’t learn Online shop: www..fr History, experience it! 14 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com CATZ/CARENTAN N°17 - B3 UTAH BEACH / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH

The +s: Simulators: tanks, strike aircraft, Normandy parachute jumps and helicopter. Excursions in armoured vehicles. 40’s period bar restaurant open to all. Victory Museum Cinema and conference hall.

OPENING TIMES Open daily. The Normandy Victory museum is a unique U.S. Check our website for opening hours. place where you can touch objects and walk through realistic scenes. You will evolve among U.S soldiers VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) and amoured forces in 1944 from Utah beach until Individuals: the battle of the hedgerows ; the NVM is also Adults: 9€ / Children (7 - 16 yrs): 6 € / (under 7): free dedicated to women at war. Groups: Schoolchildren: 6€ / Adults: 8€ Free guided tour – free entry for drivers, guides From virtual reality to simulators and amoured and WWII veterans vehicles to ride, you will relive the history of the > Trip in armoured vehicle (10 mins): 39€ time! in GMC 30€ > Virtual reality experience: 20€ On site a bar restaurant is open to share a pleasant > Entrance + tank + Simulator: 55€ moment. Duration of visit: 1 1/2 hrs

CONTACT Normandy Victory Museum P.A. La Fourchette Avenue du Cotentin, BP 411 Carentan les marais, 50¸500 CATZ +33 (0)2 33 71 74 94 www.normandy-victory-museum.com For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 15 AZEVILLE N°18 - B3 > Azeville Gun Battery With an impressive subterranean network and a complete defensive system, the Azeville gun battery was one of the main targets of the Allies on June 6th 1944. It fell on June 9th after intense fighting. You CARENTAN can look round the battery on your N°20 - B3 own on an audio-guided tour, and see the pillboxes camouflaged as > The Carentan ruined houses, as well as an incre- dible 350-metre-long network of 1944 Historical underground tunnels.

© John Fleck Trail On your tour, thanks to an exhibition (in French and English), learn about the battery’s construc- CARENTAN This 40km-long circuit encourages UTAH BEACH / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH tion, the life of the German garrison posted here N°19 - B3 you to discover 13 major sites in and its relations with local people. A book, on the battle for the liberation of the sale in the shop, also covers these themes. The > U.S Assault Carentan Sector, retold in the story presentations are based on historical research of ‘Band of Brothers’, during which, and new archival material. The German Mess, over several days, American para- where the garrison entertained itself, has been troopers of the 101st Airborne were recreated. There’s a new reception area, shop (Higgins pitted against German soldiers, just and exhibition space. Temporary exhibitions for after 15,000 US parachutists had 2020, Year of the Cartoon: ‘The Children of the boat) been dropped over the Carentan Resistance’, from 01/03/20 to 05/07/20; then Marshes and the D-Day landings ‘Maus’, from 07/07/20 to 30/10/20. Despite the fact that over 20,000 h a d o c c u r r e d o n U t a h B e a c h . L.C.V.P. assault barges were built OPENING TIMES during WWII and widely used for You can follow this circuit, with its informative Open April to 11 November, daily except 1 the during bilingual panels, at your own pace, in your own May. Groups, year-round, by reservation, the largest amphibious ever, most vehicle, at any time of year, aided by the app except during French Christmas holidays. The of them have now disappeared. Kit’M. You can download the app in advance t i c ke t o ˜ ce c l o s e s 1 h r b e fo re t h e s i te c l o s e s . After a complete restoration, and for free via your smartphone. Guided tours every Tuesday during French the Higgins boat «PA30-4» now holidays, except Christmas holidays. remains the only seaworthy unit in OPENING TIMES Guided tours for families with children, Europe ! In addition to her annual Accessible year-round. Wednesdays at 11am, during French presentation at dock in Carentan, holidays, except Christmas holidays. the «PA30-4» is also taking part VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Booking recommended to commemorations as well as to You can also rent a touch-screen tablet Night-time tours: every Thursday, 14/07 to 15/08 various nautical events, being also at the Tourist O˜ce at the price of €8, on regularly requested for historical condition that you pay a reimbursable VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) documentaries filming. deposit of €250 and present o˜cial Adults: €7 / Reductions: €5.50 ID. At the Tourist O˜ce, you can get a Children (from 7 to 18 years old): €3.50 OPENING TIMES b ro c h u re w i t h a m a p a n d G P S d a t a to o . Families: €21 Check at Carentan port - quai de A virtual tour of the sites is available on Visit with an audio guide (Summer season) www.carentan-circuit-44.com (F(F Children)/GB/D/NL/I/E)

CONTACT CONTACT +33(0)6 86 88 49 51 Oce de Tourisme de la Baie du Cotentin CONTACT [email protected] Bureau de Carentan Batterie d’Azeville, La rue, 50310 AZEVILLE www.challengelcvp.com 24, place de la République +33 (0)2 33 40 63 05 / musee.azeville@.fr 50500 CARENTAN / +33 (0)2 33 71 23 50 patrimoine.manche.fr [email protected] Patrimoine et musées de la Manche www.ot-baieducotentin.fr 16 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

ÉCAUSSEVILLE N°21 - B2 > Hangar A place which has known three wars (14-18, 39-45 and the ). SAINT-MARCOUF-DE-L’ISLE Built as a maritime air station in 1916 N°23 - B3 to hunt down German submarines and mines, the concrete hangar (150 ÎLE TATIHOU > Marcouf 44 metres long, 40 metres wide and N°22 - B2 Command post 31 metres high) is today the biggest in the world. From 1936 to 1939 it > The Fort A guided tour around this German was batteries of marines who were command bunker allows you to based here. The Germans took it over of Tatihou explore inside one of the rare res- between 1940 and 1944. On June 9th tored vestiges of the Atlantic Wall. UTAH BEACH / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH 1944 the hangar was liberated after No less than 30 structures were built by Enclosed in the bunker, the captain a furious battle led by the US 8th In- the Germans within the defensive walls in charge of this key position that fantry. It remained a logistical base for of Fort Vauban on the Island of Tatihou then held 400 soldiers organised the maintenance of vehicles for the during The Second World War! The ca- its defence during more than six Americans until 1945. Between 1967 semates, the field gun emplacements, days of . The events that oc- and 1969 (during the Cold War) the the tobruks, the machine gun posts, the curred at this historic site featured site became a base for the construc- trenches etc formed a condensed ver- in one of the famous scenes in the tion of balloons for nuclear tests. sion of the Atlantic Wall. The particu- war film (which larity of Tatihou is in the juxtaposition you’ll recognise immediately on New temporary exhibitions of military fortifications dating from the tour if you know the movie) and New showcase displays / New video screens between the 17th and the 20th centuries. lie at the origin of the facts that ins- at the heart of the museum. Some of the most recent structures are pired the film Saving Private Ryan. directly built into the older ones. This OPENING TIMES arrangement clearly illustrates how Made up of four levels, with ten rooms February: daily from Saturday well these defensive systems have stood spread out over three underground 1 5 Fe b r u a r y to S u n d ay 1 M a rc h , 2 p m > 6 p m the test of time. storeys, this was the only observation and (school holidays) artillery bunker located overlooking Utah March: closed Every summer, artists put up installations Beach. Adopting a unique system, here April/May/June: daily, 2pm > 6pm around the bunkers, blockhauses and you’re left to wander freely around this July/August: daily, 10am > 6pm . These fortifications are turned into historic site, without any signposted route Sept/Nov: daily, 2pm > 6pm creative spaces, throwing quite a dižerent light or showcases. You find yourself directly on the Atlantic Wall. amidst items plunging you 75 years into VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) the past. Adults: €6 / From 8 to 14 yrs: €2.50 OPENING TIMES Groups (over 10 people): €5 From start April to end October OPENING TIMES Family 2 + 2 teens: 15€ Family 2 + 1 teen: €13 From July to September: VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Monday to Thursday 11am > 7pm Adults: €11,50 / Children: €5 Outside of the summer period: find the ope- Reduced price: €9.50 / Families: entrance free ning days on the website www.marcouf44.com for a 3rd child CONTACT VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Association des Amis Adults: €6.5 / Children (under 15 years of age): free du Hangar à Dirigeables d’Ecausseville +33 (0)2 33 08 56 02 [email protected] CONTACT Tatihou Ticket Oce CONTACT quai Vauban, 50550 Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue MARCOUF 44 Route de Crisbecq +33(0)2 14 29 03 30 50310 ST MARCOUF DE L’ISLE tatihou.manche.fr +33 (0)6 82 01 49 08 www.marcouf44.com For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 17 SAINT-MARCOUF-DE-L’ISLE N°24 - B3 > Crisbecq Gun Battery Totally immerse yourself in the 22 subterranean blockhouses with their period fittings. It’s so much more than just a gun battery, more a real village with barracks, muni- tion stores, kitchen, infirmary and tobrooks via an amazing complex of trenches and galleries extending to 800 metres. A unique place not QUINÉVILLE to be missed, from where the first N°25 - B2 artillery gun fired at dawn on June th > Buy your 1€ Pass and get over 6 1944. This is where it all began! World War II 70€ worth of reductions An iconic place from which the first artillery gun Museum for museums, activities, natural attractions and was fired at dawn on June 6th 1944 on regional and craft products around Sainte Mère > 22 subterranean blockhouses with their Walking through 10,000 square / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH Eglise, Utah Beach, and Carentan. period fittings feet of exhibition space, the visitor > Anti-aircraft L410A command post on two is transported back to life during On sale from our partners and from the Tourist O‡ces of Carentan and Sainte Mère Eglise floors, 6 rooms with their fittings and its Flack World War II, with realistic scenes 20mm gun showing the atmosphere of the pe- > A complex of tunnels, trenches and riod as it really was. Wander down a underground rooms covering 5 ha / 12.5 acres typical street from the 1940’s which More information at > Tour with explanatory signs in 6 languages has been completely reconstructed www.ot-baieducotentin.fr complete with its shops and houses. OPENING TIMES Many vehicles and items of the pe- April to mid-November: daily, 10am > 6pm riod, including a blockhouse form July and August: daily, 10am > 7pm part of the visit, with a view of the (Ticket o˜ce closes 1hr before site closes.) anti-tank wall, which can still be found on the beach of Quinéville. VISITS, TOURS AND PRICES (from, not including special events) For the first time ever, you can experience Tour without a guide the Second World War at 1/6th scale with Adults: €10 many figurines and vehicles. A visit not Reductions (15 to 18 years old, military to be missed just 10 minutes from Sainte- personnel and partners): €9 Mère-Église. Children (6 to 14 years old): €6 Reconstruction Guided tours (in French) by reservation OPENING TIMES of a café – grocery (for groups of 15 or more) From 1 April to All Saints’ Day.

store from the 1940s VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Sylvie & Jean-Marie Caillard invite you to Unaccompanied visit: Adults €7 their reconstruction of a 1940s café-grocery Children (aged 6-12 yrs) € 5.50 store. Their doors are open from 11am to Visit Duration: 1 1/2 hrs 11pm on the first Saturday of each month. CONTACT The opportunity to discover this place with Musée de la Batterie de Crisbecq its collection of furnishings and objects Route de Crisbecq, 50310 ST-MARCOUF-DE-L’ISLE from the 40s. +33 (0)9 82 57 61 92 / +33 (0)6 68 41 09 04 [email protected] CONTACT Monsieur et Madame CAILLARD www.batterie-marcouf.com World War II Museum 11 rue Jean Tružaut Batterie de Crisbecq 18, Avenue de la plage, QUINÉVILLE Carentan +33 (0)2 33 95 95 95 50500 CARENTAN LES MARAIS [email protected] Tél. 06 34 03 46 45 18 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE N°26 - B3 > Open-air museum In your own vehicle, going at your own pace, head off on a 50 km-long circuit to discover the 11 sites lin- ked to the history of D-Day around Sainte-Mère-Eglise and Sainte-Ma- rie-du-Mont, guided by the mobile app, Kit’M, offering commentaries, archive images, videos and testi- monials. You can download this app in advance, for free, on your smartphone.

OPENING TIMES The circuit is freely accessible all year round. UTAH BEACH / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) You can also hire a touch-screen tablet from the Tourist O˜ce at the price of €8, on condi- tion that you pay a reimbursable deposit of €250 and present o˜cial ID.

CONTACT Oce de Tourisme de la Baie du Cotentin Bureau de Sainte Mère Eglise 6, rue Eisenhower, 50480 SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE +33 (0)2 33 21 00 33 [email protected] www.ot-baieducotentin.fr

ORGLANDES N°27 - B3 One of the memorials bears the names of 22 soldiers who died on > German military October 25th 1945. These German Cemetery sappers lost their lives in the ex- plosion of a load of dynamite at Located north of the village of Or- Asnières-en-Bessin near Bayeux. glandes this cemetery has 10,152 Their remains couldn’t be indi- graves. The Volksbund, which vidually identified so they were maintains German military graves buried in block 27, row 13, grave began landscaping and architec- 420/421. tural works in 1958. The cemetery was inaugurated on September 20th 1961. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 19 UTAH BEACH / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE BEACH UTAH 20 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Pointe du Hoc

The 2nd Ranger was tasked with climbing 30 metres of cliff, assaulting the German battery at Omaha Omaha and destroying its guns. Beach Pointe du Hoc

n the other American and almost ended in a real disaster. beach, the situation At the price of heavy losses, was difficult. The the Americans finally emerged beaches of Omaha victorious, and took possession of were a real trap for the the coastal villages. Otroops of the 1st and 29th Divisions. The first assault wave At the same time, a little further to was brutally cut down, while the the west, the second left the beach strewn with was charged with climbing the the wounded, the dead and broken 30-metre cliff at Pointe du Hoc, equipment. Eventually, drawing assaulting the German battery and on the last of their resources, the destroying its guns. In a few minutes, soldiers managed to climb the the best climbers reached the top cliff-like slope that overlooked the of the cliff. There they discovered beach, and negotiate the barbed a complete field of ruins created by wire. Towards midday, they began to shells and bombs from Allied naval breach the German defences, and so ships offshore, but no sign of the the battle swung in the Allies’ favour. 155 mm artillery, which had been withdrawn by the Germans a short The assault on Omaha Beach time before. Towards midday Pointe encountered numerous difficulties du Hoc was in American hands. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 21 COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER N°28 - B3 OMAHA BEACH

Forty years of research and passion have enabled the formation of this unique Overlord Museum collection. Among the 10,000 pieces are 40 vehicles, tanks and cannons, on display Omaha Beach i n a n e x h i b i t i o n t h a t i s u n i q u e i n E u r o p e . New for 2020/2021: new museum scenery has been created to put the finishing Located at the heart of Normandy’s 1944 D-Day touches to the 2019 extension. Landing Beaches, 500 m from Omaha’s famed American Military Cemetery, Overlord Museum- OPENING TIMES Omaha Beach offers visitors an extraordinary tour. From 15 February to 30 December It boasts an unparalleled, unequalled historical The ticket o˜ce closes one hour before the collection from the period, helping you retrace the museum’s final closing time. events of 1944 that began the liberation of Europe. The immersive presentations allow visitors to better VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) understand the relevant history, from preparations Adults: €8.40 for D-Day through to the liberation of , and are Children (under 10 years old): free well geared to younger generations. Reductions: €6.10

CONTACT Overlord Museum Omaha Beach Lotissement Omaha Center 14 710 COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER +33 (0)2 31 22 00 55 [email protected] 22 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com CRICQUEVILLE-EN-BESSIN N°29 - B3 OMAHA BEACH

Pointe du Hoc is one of the few places La Pointe still showing clear signs of the violence of the Landings in Normandy. Severely hit du Hoc by the fighting it allows you to imagine the extreme conditions in which the Rangers climbed the cliž under the fire from German soldiers lying in ambush at Pointe du Hoc was a strategic point in the German the top. defences on the Normandy coast. The mission to take it was given to the 2nd Ranger battalion. Under OPENING TIMES the command of Lt. Colonel J.E. Rudder these sol- Free access year round diers achieved the incredible feat of reaching the Visitor Centre reception: top in just a few minutes despite the slope being From April 1st to September 30th : 9am to 6pm very slippery, the climbing ropes made heavy by From October 1st to March 31st : 9am to 5pm seawater, and intense fire from the defenders. In a Closed December 25th and January 1st lunar landscape full of deep craters, the fierce bat- tle which ensued was even bloodier than the climb. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES And a big surprise awaited the Rangers: they found Pointe du Hoc is accessible free of charge that huge wooden beams had been placed in the sta- year round tions instead of artillery guns! Today the site still bears the traces of the German artillery battery as well as deep scars from the fierce CONTACT fighting which took place here on June 6th and 7th AMBC - Pointe du Hoc 1944, which cost the lives of 135 Rangers. 14450 CRICQUEVILLE-EN-BESSIN 0033 (0)2 31 51 62 00 [email protected] www.abmc.gov For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 23 COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER N°30 - B3 > Big Red One Assault Museum

The first division of American in- OMAHA BEACH fantry of the US Army is nicknamed The Big Red One because of its insi- gnia consisting of a big red ‘1’. After Operation Torch in North Africa it fought Rommel’s , then took part in the landing in Si- cily. It was also on Omaha Beach on June 6th 1944 where it suffered heavy losses. At the end of the war, in 1945, it had lost over 21,000 men COLOMBIÈRES GÉFOSSE-FONTENAY (wounded and prisoners included) N°31 - B3 N°32 - B3 or nearly half of its numbers. > Colombières > Tour of OPENING TIMES Open from March to November Castle Géfosse- > From 01/03/2019 to 31/05/2019 : 10am-midday / 2pm-6pm Plunge into the heart of the psycho- Fontenay Except Tuesdays logical war carried out by the Ame- > From 01/06/2019 to 31/08/2019 : 10am-7pm rican propaganda services based Blockhouse > From 01/09/2019 to 30/11/2019 : at the Château de Colombières in 10am -midday / 2pm-6pm 1944. Discover the history of the Every Sunday morning at 10am Except Tuesdays Ritchie Boys, young refugees from the guide Luc Le Gleuher offers a Germany, mainly of Jewish origin, guided tour of the Géfosse-Fonte- VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) who fled and joined nay blockhouse. Visitors can find Adults : 5 € / Children : 3.50 € the American military intelligence out about this perfectly preserved Unguided visits at all times services. These little-known histo- piece of the Atlantic Wall. The Average Duration 45 minutes ric facts are presented by the châ- price of the visit is left to visitors’ Languages spoken : French/English teau’s proprietor, who has gathered discretion. a unique collection of documents, newspapers and propaganda tracts, OPENING TIMES revealing the major role the Ritchie This place on the coast can be visited every CONTACT Boys played in the Allies’ strategy. Sunday at 10am Big Red One Assault Museum Le Bray, 14710 COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER OPENING TIMES VISITS +33 (0)2 31 21 53 81 Guided tour lasting an hour, at 10am on Visits possible by appointment [email protected] Tuesdays in June, July and August. www.bigredonemuseum.com By reservation only.

VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) CONTACT €5. Languages spoken: French / English For all information +33 (0)6 74 72 25 15 Leaving every Sunday morning from the Musée Station 70 at CONTACT (close to Géfosse)) Château de Colombières, 14710 COLOMBIERES M ou Mme Charles de Maupeou +33 (0)2 31 22 51 65 [email protected] chateau-colombieres.fr 24 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

GRANDCAMP-MAISY N°33 - B3 > Maisy Gun Battery Built after 1942 this German batte-

OMAHA BEACH ry was part of a military area of 44 hectares (110 acres). Completely forgotten for sixty years, it was rediscovered in 2006. It covered Utah and Omaha Beaches. On June 9th 1944 the final assault by the 5th and 2nd American Rangers took place under heavy fire for five long hours. SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-MER 2.5 km of trenches, tunnels and other N°34 - B3 OPENING TIMES underground constructions, as well as six From 1 May to 30 September 155·mm artillery platform emplacements > Liberation are now open to the public. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES House Daily: OPENING TIMES > 10am to 6.30pm: you can visit the outside Open every day from April to September Members of “Les Fleurs de la Ré- by yourself, discovering the memorial to the April, May, September: 10am - 5pm sistance“ (Flowers of the Resis- 101st Airborne and this place of remem- June, July, August: 10am - 7pm tance) association, messengers of brance. The ticket o˜ce closes 1 hour before the memory, welcome you to the first > 6.30pm to 7.30pm: private guided tour museum closes. house to be liberated by the Ame- inside, plus every Wednesday afternoon from ricans on the morning of June 6th 2pm to 7.30pm VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) 1944 at Saint Laurent-sur-Mer. On appointment : Adults : 7.20 € It is both a site of remembrance >9pm Les Veillées d‘Omaha (or Night-time Children 6-18 yrs : 4.80 € and a vestige of D-Day, dedicated Tales from Omaha). Lasts 2hrs30min. Visit the Students: 6 € to the Resistance fighters, to the place listening to testimonials from veterans, Adult Group (over 10 people) : 6 € little-known Top Secret operation Resistance fighters and civilians, followed by of mission Ascain of the / a screening on life before, during and after Proust Plans which took place on the OMAHA landings. the night of June 5th to 6th 1944 at Fees – Please make a donation as a token CONTACT Omaha Beach, to the paratroopers of your appreciation to the association “Les Batterie de Maisy of the lost Fleurs de la Résistance“ Route des Perruques on Omaha: “the stela of memory” 14450 GRANDCAMP-MAISY to the allies and civilians of the +44 7411 932197 period. [email protected] CONTACT www.maisybattery.com Maison de la Libération 27 rue du val 14710 SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-MER Omaha Beach +33 (0)6 87 40 35 63 [email protected] www.maisondelaliberation.fr For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 25 OMAHA BEACH

VIERVILLE-SUR-MER N°36 - B3 > The Omaha D-Day Museum Thousands of original objects are exhibited in an area of over 3,000 m2 or 30,000 sq ft at the heart of Omaha Beach in an authentic American building of the period. Situated between the American cemetery (4 km) and Pointe du SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-MER Hoc (7 km), and 200 metres from N°35 - B3 the beach, this museum displays a OPENING TIMES unique collection, collected over > Omaha Beach 01/06 > 31/08: 9.30am-7.30pm (7pm in June) about fifty years by an enthusiast, 01/04 > 31/05 and Sept: 9.30am-6.30pm who was also a father, but has now Memorial Check on opening times at other periods. died leaving his two sons the duty of continuing this memorial en- Museum VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) deavour. Adult Full rate: 7 € On the actual site of Omaha Students: 5.60 € (16-25 yrs) OPENING TIMES Beach with a floor area of 1400 m2 Child: 4 € (7-15 yrs) Open daily from April to September (14,000 sq ft) the museum exhibits From April 1st to May 30th and from uniforms, personal items, arms, September 1st to 30th: 10.30am-6pm vehicles, a landing craft, Belgian From June 1st to August 31st: 10am-7pm gates, a long Tom 155 mm gun, a CONTACT tank and more. Many scenes and Musée Mémorial d’Omaha Beach VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) a wealth of photographic docu- Avenue de la Libération Adult : 6 € / Student: 5 € mentation will plunge you into 14710 SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-MER Child (8 to 15 yrs): 3.50 € the heart of the history of the Lan- +33 (0)2 31 21 97 44 Adult groups from 8 people 4€ per person dings. At the end of your visit a 25 [email protected] Visit duration: 30/45 mins minutes long film with witness www.musee-memorial-omaha.com Free for children under 8 years old (accompa- accounts from American veterans nied by a paying adult), and WWII veterans. will clearly explain the landings on Omaha and at Pointe du Hoc. Mu- seum with facilities for children. CONTACT There is a new shop open to all in the mu- Musée D-DAY Omaha seum reception area. Route de Grandcamp 14710 Vierville-sur-Mer +33 (0)2 31 21 71 80 [email protected] [email protected] 26 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com N°37 - B3 OMAHA BEACH

OPENING TIMES The cemetery is open year-round. The The German exhibition space and toilets are closed at military Cemetery Christmas and New Year. ENTRANCE FEES of La Cambe Free

CONTACT Covering 10.5 hectares, this is one of six German Cimetière militaire allemand military cemeteries created in the aftermath of 14230 LA CAMBE the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War. +33 (0)2 31 22 70 76 Almost 21,300 German soldiers are buried here. [email protected] A permanent exhibition, in French, German and www.volksbund.de English, covers the themes of humankind in times of war, the German graves, the civil population, the meaning of commemorations and the duty of remembrance. By presenting examples of the lives of specific soldiers and families, the complexities a n d t r a g e d i e s o f t h e w a r a r e b r o u g h t o u t . The 1,120 Acer Globosum maple trees planted in the Peace Garden act as so many symbols of peace and reconciliation. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 27 COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER N°38 - B3 OMAHA BEACH

OPENING TIMES Free access all year Normandy From April 1st to September 30th : 9am to 6pm From October 1st to March 31st : 9am to 5pm American Closed January 1st and December 25th Last admission 15 minutes before closing Cemetery and time. Visitor Center VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES Free entrance

Located just above Omaha Beach at Colleville- CONTACT sur-Mer, the Normandy American Cemetery was AMBC - Normandy American Cemetery dedicated in 1956. It honours the American service 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer members who died during Operation Overlord and +33 (0)2 31 51 62 00 is part of the 26 permanent cemeteries on foreign [email protected] soil managed by the American Battle Monuments www.abmc.gov Commission (ABMC). A key memorial site, it contains the perfectly aligned headstones of 9,387 soldiers who fell in combat. Completing this moving ensemble is a Garden of the Missing where the names of 1,557 soldiers are engraved, a chapel, a memorial and the Visitor Center. The new visitor center will be inaugurated on June 7, 2019. The visitor center exhibition plays an important role in providing visitors with context and emotional engagement to the incredible story of courage and sacrifice of the D-Day landings and Normandy campaign. This is a place of commemoration and we therefore ask visitors to behave accordingly, and be both silent and respectful. 28 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Arromanches

In 100 days, 220,000 soldiers, 530,000 tonnes of supplies and 39,000 vehicles were landed Gold at “Port Winston” Beach Arromanches

fter landing at Gold The principle of the Mulberries, Beach, the British or artificial harbours, was to land 50th Infantry Division vehicles and supplies very rapidly was soon at the gates by using quays protected by a line of Bayeux, and took of concrete caissons, until such Acontrol of the town on the morning time as the continental ports were of June 7th. Its objective was also to captured. In 100 days, 220,000 seize Arromanches, making ready for soldiers, 530,000 tonnes of supplies the installation of the future artificial and 39,000 vehicles were landed at « Mulberry » Harbour and linking up “Port Winston”. This was of crucial with Canadian troops, who had landed importance because Allied troops at Juno Beach. This mission would be needed all their weapon supplies to accomplished on the evening of the 6th. fend off a German counterattack. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 29 ARROMANCHES N°39 - C3 GOLD BEACH

Buy your tickets online via Arromanches 360 www.arromanches360.fr OPENING TIMES circular Cinema Open all year except for the month of January (all our opening hours are on www.arromanches360.fr)

Situated on the heights above Arromanches, the Arro- VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) manches 360 circular cinema looks over the remains Adults: €6.50 of the artificial Mulberry port built by the Allies. Children (under 10 years of age): free. Reductions (children from 10 to 18 years of The film ‘Normandy’s 100 Days’ plunges viewers age, students, and the retired): €5.50 into the heart of the terrible Battle of Normandy. Shown in a circular room with nine screens around it, in 19 minutes it uses unique archival images to re- trace the 100 days of combat. The film pays homage to the combatants of all nations concerned and to the 20,000 civilians killed during this battle for the CONTACT liberation of , which brought such Arromanches 360 new hope. Chemin du calvaire 14117 Arromanches-les-bains +33 (0)2 31 06 06 45 [email protected] www.arromanches360.fr 30 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com ARROMANCHES N°40 - C3 GOLD BEACH

An alignment of 30 linear metres of models, a diorama and a film of archive footage help to emphasise the huge logistical and strategic achievement of the Allies. The remains of Port Winston, visible from the museum, show the extraordinary scale of this operation. • Free explanatory brochures available in 18 languages. • Diorama available in 6 languages The Landings • Archive film in 9 languages Museum •3D Animation with commentary OPENING TIMES All year except January

On June 8th 1944, two days after the liberation of VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Arromanches, the first Phoenix concrete caissons Adults: €8.20 were submerged at sea to form a . Less Children (6 to 18 years of age): €6. than a week later unloading could begin. In 100 days Reductions: €7.20 220,000 soldiers, 530,000 tonnes of supplies and Reductions for families with numerous 39,000 vehicles were unloaded at “Port Winston”. children

Built on the very site of the British artificial port of which the traces can still be seen a few metres off shore, the museum tells the history of the incredible challenge that the construction and running of this port represented, a key element in the Allied victory CONTACT in Normandy. Apart from showing how it worked, a Musée du Débarquement collection of some 2,000 objects helps to evoke the Place du 6 Juin atmosphere of the time and pay tribute to the sol- 14117 ARROMANCHES-LES-BAINS diers of the nations which took part in the Landings. +33 (0)2 31 22 34 31 [email protected] www.musee-arromanches.fr For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 31 LONGUES-SUR-MER N°41 - C3 GOLD BEACH

The gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer is the only one today to still be equipped with German Gun its guns from the period. Its excellent state of conservation and its well-maintained Battery of surroundings make it really worth a visit. Longues-sur-Mer OPENING TIMES The site is accessible, for free, all year round. There are paying guided tours daily in July and August and at weekends from April to The German gun battery of Longues-sur-Mer offers June and September to October. an extraordinary panoramic view over the Landing beaches. The only battery to be listed as a Historic VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Monument, it notably includes a firing command Adults : €5 post and four reinforced concrete pillboxes each Children (11/17 yrs) : €3 housing a long range artillery piece of 150 mm. Children under 10 free

Situated in the area between Gold Beach and Omaha Beach at the top of a cliff overlooking the Channel, it played a strategic role during the Landing of Allied forces on June 6th 1944. Subjected to intense bom- bardment by air and then by sea which prevented it CONTACT from fully taking part in the action on D-Day, it was Bayeux Intercom Tourist Oce taken by British troops on June 7th. Bureau de Longues sur Mer Site de la Batterie 14400 Bayeux +33 (0)2 31 21 46 87 [email protected] www.bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com 32 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com GOLD BEACH

COMMES - PORT-EN-BESSIN OPENING TIMES N°42 - B3 Daily from June to September and at weekends, plus on French public holidays > Museum in May of undersea VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) APPLICATION Adults : 7,50 € Arromanches wrecks Children (7 to 16 yrs) : 4,50 € 1944 in For twenty five years, Jacques Le- enhanced monchois has tirelessly scoured reality the depths off the landing beaches CONTACT searching for the remains of the Musée des épaves sous-marines big warships sunk around June du Débarquement 6th 1944. The museum keeps these Route de Bayeux - BP 9 objects in the state in which they 14520 - PORT EN BESSIN were discovered, and also presents +33 (0)2 31 21 17 06 war machines (assault tanks, tor- [email protected] pedoes, mines, artillery guns, and From the artificial port mechanical parts). of Arromanches to Juno Beach

Available free at For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 33

RYES - N°44 - C3

> War Cemetery GOLD BEACH Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

Situated beside the D87 road east of Bayeux, the military cemetery at Ryes, Bazenville has over 600 Commonwealth graves. The first of these were put here just two days after the Allied Landing at Arromanches.

VER-SUR-MER New for 2020-2021: The Commonwealth War Graves N°43 - C3 Tw o n e w s h o wc a s e s w i l l b e p u t o n d i s p l a y : Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 • one presenting objects from the B3 million men and women of the armies > America . of the Commonwealth nations who • the other presenting the mannequin of died in the two World Wars by looking Gold Beach Major Young and his medals, as well as a after their graves and memorials in over model. 23,000 sites scattered across more than Museum • A presentation of souvenirs from British 150 countries and territories around the aviators of No.10 Squadron world. The America section of the mu- who took part in the bombardment of the seum tells of the first postal link Mont-Fleury Battery during the night of 6 For any further information, don’t between the USA and France June 1944. The museum enables visitors to hesitate to consult our website by air, the forced sea landing of view a film on the plane called ‘America’ on www.cwgc.org, where you can access our the America at Ver-sur-Mer on large-screen tablets. database at your leisure and also view the night of July 1st 1927 and the our on-line archives. conquest of the North Atlantic OPENING TIMES by the pioneers of aviation in the From March to October. 20th century. The Gold Beach sec- tion is devoted to the history of VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) the Landings by the British in the Adults: 4.50 € OPENING TIMES King sector on June 6th 1944, and Children (under 15): 2€ Commission cemeteries are freely accessible of the planning up until the assault Students: 2.50 € to the public throughout the year. For of the 69th (the 50th British Concessions (groups of over 10 people): 3.50 € commemorative events and private requests, Infantry Division). It pays tribute please contact the CWCG to the soldiers, sailors and airmen at [email protected]. involved in this mission. CONTACT CONTACT Musée America Gold Beach Commonwealth War Graves Commission 2 place Amiral Byrd, 14114 VER-SUR-MER Western Europe Area +33 (0)2 31 22 58 58 5-7 Rue Angèle Richard CS 10109 [email protected] 62217 Beaurains France www.goldbeachmusee.fr +33 (0) 3 21 21 77 00 [email protected] www.cwgc.org 34 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Courseulles-sur-Mer Douvres Of the five landing zones, this one saw the furthest Allied advance by the Juno evening of D-Day. Beach Courseulles-sur-Mer

anding by the 3 rd of the assault – the 3 rd Division Canadian Infantry liberated its coastal sector and Division between Graye encircled the radar station at and Saint-Aubin. The Douvres-la-Délivrande. Losing Canadians had to take no time, they took control of Lthe coastal defences in the villages inland: , Saint- Courseulles-Bernières sector, Croix and Bény. Of the five and then sweep inland to link landing zones, this one saw the up with British troops from furthest Allied advance by the Gold and Sword Beaches. After evening of D-Day. For a month, heavy losses on the beaches – Canadian forces battled to wrest Canadian forces suffered 50% the road, RN13, and of their losses in the first hour Caen from the enemy. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 35 COURSEULLES-SUR-MER N°45 - C3 JUNO BEACH

As well as its permanent exhibition, the , the only Canadian museum on the Landing Beaches, ožers Juno Beach the youth circuit Explore Juno to discover as a family or as a class. It is also possible to Centre take part in a guided tour of Juno Park and its remains of the Atlantic Wall, including the bunkers in front of the museum, led by Located on the beach where Canadians landed in a young Canadian. June 1944 alongside other Allied forces, the Juno Temporary exhibition « Great Women Beach Centre presents the role of which Canada during the Wa 1939-1945 » developed by the played during the Second World War, particularly . in Normandy. After a short introductory film, visi- tors are invited to find out about this history in five OPENING TIMES permanent exhibition, spaces, featurinng archival, February, November, December 10am > 5pm documents, photos, audio-visual and sound records March and October 10am > 6pm and a interactive media maps, objects and a twelves April to September 9.30am > 7pm minute film entitled « They Walk With You », a taste Closed in January and on 25 December. of what the Canadians experienced on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Adults: €7.50 Students, children 8 and over: €6 Groups of adults: €6 Family Ticket: €23

CONTACT Centre Juno Beach Voie des Français Libres – BP 104 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer +33 (0)2 31 37 32 17 [email protected] - www.junobeach.org

BÉNY-SUR-MER - REVIERS > Bény-sur-mer Canadian War Cemetery N°46 - C3 Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery The Canadian military cemetery of Bayeux on the D35. Over 2000 Division, which took a major part at Bény-sur-Mer is situated close men are buried here. Many of in the Landings and the march on to the village of Reviers, 18km east them belonged to the 3rd Canadian Caen. 36 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Pegasus Bridge The men under Major Howard attained their objective and Bénouville Sword bridge became Pegasus Beach Bridge

n June 5th, a little On the afternoon of June 6th, Hitler before 11 pm, British gave the order to move several gliders were launched armoured divisions towards towards Bénouville Normandy. However, by then it was bridge. In the space of too late: the die was cast. Oa few minutes, the men under Major Howard attained their objective and On June 6th, at midnight, more Bénouville bridge became Pegasus than 156,000 Allied soldiers were Bridge. The bridge at , a little in Normandy, including 23,000 further east, was also stormed. At the paratroopers, and 20,000 vehicles of same time, the parachutists of the 6th all types. 12,000 men had been killed, Airborne Division overcame the gun wounded or taken prisoner. battery at Merville.

The landing of troops by sea took place at Hermanville and Colleville. From there, the – including the 177 green berets of the No 4 Commando – were ordered to take from behind. Afterwards, they advanced towards the bridges at Ranville and Bénouville to give their support to the paratroopers. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 37 RANVILLE N°47 - C3 SWORD BEACH SWORD

The vast majority of the artefacts on display have been donated by veterans and The Pegasus their families. Memorial Photo Exhibition: Veterans portrait. OPENING TIMES February, March, October from 10.00 to 17.00 April, May, June, July, August, Sep- Situated on the Eastern flank of the D-Day Coast, temberzfrom 09.30 to 18.30 the Pegasus Memorial museum recounts the role Closed from 16th December to 31st January of 6th British Airborne Division in the early hours of D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Adults: €8 The assault and capture of Pegasus Bridge, by glider Children : €5.50 borne troops, was one of the most spectacular mis- sions of the D-Day Landings. Pegasus Bridge along with a full-size copy of a British Horsa glider are on display in the grounds of the museum. Guided visits and archive films enable visitors to re- CONTACT live the dawn of D-Day. Mémorial Pegasus Avenue du Major Howard 14860 RANVILLE +33 (0)2 31 78 19 44 [email protected] www.memorial-pegasus.org 38 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com MERVILLE-FRANCEVILLE N°48 - C3 SWORD BEACH SWORD

A unique experience awaits you in the Merville largest blockhaus. Sounds, images, lights and smells plunge you, for a few minutes, Gun Battery into the hell of the bombardments and the neutralisation of the Merville Battery on 6 Museum June 1944. OPENING TIMES From 15 March to 30 September 9.30am A formidable in the Atlantic Wall, > 6. 30pm (last admission at 6pm) Merville Battery was built on the eastern end From 1 October to 15 November 10am of Sword Beach, between the seaside towns of > 5pm (last admission at 4. 30pm) Ouistreham and . A top priority to put Annual closure from 16 November to 14 March out of action for D-Day, the Battery was repeate- (except for groups of more than 20 people, d l y b o m b e d b y A l l i e d a v i a t i o n , b u t u n s u c c e s s f u l l y . by reservation) The British 9th Parachute Battalion, led by Lieute- nant-Colonel Otway, was then instructed to neutra- VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) lise the Battery, on the night of 5 to 6 June. At this Adults: €8 historic site (heritage-listed as an historic monu- Children: €5 ment), an educational trail has been put in place to Reduced price: €7 help you explore the area and its various bunkers, (students, members of the military, offering an immersive experience. veterans, the handicapped, the unemployed) Families: if with 3 children or more, those children go free

CONTACT Musée de la Batterie de Merville Place du 9e Bataillon 14810 MERVILLE FRANCEVILLE +33 (0)2 31 91 47 53 [email protected] www.batterie-merville.com For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 39 SWORD BEACH SWORD

COLLEVILLE-MONTGOMERY N°49 - C3 > Hillman Strongpoint This German position from the Second World War was the coas- tal defence command post for the 736th Regiment of Grenadiers and 716th German Infantry Division. Twenty blockhouses – of which ten are open for visiting – are scat- tered over an area of 24 hectares (59 acres). OPENING TIMES July, August and September: Guided tour on Tuesdays at 3pm July and August: Monday, Tuesday, Wed- nesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday the Memorial and its museum open from 10am to midday and 2.30pm to 6.30pm. DOUVRES-LA-DÉLIVRANDE OPENING TIMES th th Open year-round for groups by appointment N°50 - C3 From 4 April to 30 June and from 1st September to 15th November: VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES > 1944 Radar 10am-6pm, daily except Monday. Free, but donations accepted From 1st to 31st August: 10am-7pm, daily. Guided tours July-August and September on Museum Tuesdays at 3pm VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Discover what life was like for Unguided tour of about 45 mins. German soldiers inside wartime Full rate: €5.50 bunkers during the Occupation in Concessions: €5 Normandy. The only radar station Adult groups: €4.50 CONTACT on the D-Day landing beaches, the School groups: €3.10 Site Hillman 1944 Radar Museum occupies the Children under 10: free Mairie de Colleville-Montgomery former German lookout post. Two 14880 COLLEVILLE-MONTGOMERY bunkers of the period have been +33 (0)2 31 97 12 61 reconstructed so that you can su·olk@amis-du-su·olk-rgt.com learn about the Atlantic Wall, the CONTACT www.amis-du-su·olk-rgt.com history of radar and daily life of Musée Radar 1944 the German soldiers. Route de 14440 DOUVRES-LA-DÉLIVRANDE +33 (0)2 31 06 06 45 [email protected] www.musee-radar.fr 40 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

OUISTREHAM SWORD BEACH SWORD N°51 - C3 > No4 Commando Museum The museum, was created by British and French veterans, and traces the history of French fighters, who – thanks to the tenacity of Commandant – were able to join the British commandos and join them in a number of missions. In particular, it recounts their training at Achnacarry camp in , and their participation OUISTREHAM OPENING TIMES in the D-Day landings at Colleville N°52 - C3 > Closed from 6/1 to 8/2 sur Orne, during the liberation Open daily: of Ouistreham, and the Battle of > Atlantic Wall >From 9/2 to 31/3: 10am – 6pm Normandy. All the objects on show >From 1/4 to 30/9: 9am – 7pm are authentic, the majority of the Museum >From 1/10 to 5/1: 10am – 6pm equipment and uniforms being Closed 25th December and 1st January gifts from families and relatives. The Bunker VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) In addition to the tour, a 28-minute video The Atlantic Wall Museum is lo- Adults: 7.50€ composed of papers and period films shows cated inside the former German Children: 5.50€ (6-12 years) the commandos at Achnacarry camp and Army HQ that controlled the gun during the D-Day landings. batteries of the estuary of the Ri- Video presenting the model of D-Day. ver Orne. All the internal rooms of the Great Bunker have been res- CONTACT OPENING TIMES tored down to the smallest details: Musée du Mur de L’Atlantique Le Bunker April to start November engine room, filter room, barrack Avenue du 6 juin room, flanking pillboxes, phar- 14150 OUISTREHAM VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) macy, infirmary, armoury, ammu- +33 (0)2 31 97 28 69 Visits without a guide, lasting 1hr (FR/GB) nition store, radio transmissions [email protected] Adults:€5 room, switchboard, and an obser- www.musee-grand-bunker.com Children: €3 vation post from where you can Reduced price: €4 see for 40 km or 25 miles around the Bay of the Seine. An exhibition dedicated to the greatest CONTACT building project of the 20th century describes Musée N° 4 Commando the construction of the Atlantic Wall, which Place Alfred Thomas (Face au Casino) mobilised two million labourers over a 14150 OUISTREHAM period of three years. With many previously +33 (0)2 31 96 63 10 unseen photos and documents relating to [email protected] the Atlantic Wall, the atmosphere in this www.musee-4commando.fr unique museum will straightaway plunge you into those troubled times. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 41

APPLICATION Soldat Léon Ouistreham 1944 BEACH SWORD C96 M76 J40 N39 C67 M45 J97 N40 Immerse yourself in the world of Soldat Léon: using your tablet or smartphone, you can be at the heart of the events on June 6th 1944, in the of Léon Gautier, one of Commandant Kieffer’s 177 French troops, who made the landing that morning. Soldat Léon will be alongside you in the capture of Ouistreham’s casino, just as if you were there…

Available free at

DOUVRES-LA-DÉLIVRANDE HERMANVILLE-SUR-MER RANVILLE N°53 - C3 N°54 - C3 N°55 - C3 > La Délivrande > Hermanville > War Cemetery War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commonwealth War Graves Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery Commission Cemetery Commission Cemetery

Situated north of Caen on the With more than 1,000 graves, The name Ranville is forever lin- D7, the military cemetery of Hermanville-sur-Mer military ce- ked with the 6th Airborne Divi- Douvres-La-Délivrande is the metery is located north of Caen, sion, which captured the Caen last resting place of nearly 1,000 on the D60. The nearby village of canal bridge during the first hours victims of war. The graves in this Hermanville-sur-Mer is close to of D-Day. Nearly 2,300 Com- cemetery date from D-Day, and Sword Beach, and was occupied monwealth soldiers are buried in the landings on Sword Beach, on June 6th by the men of the 1st Ranville’s military cemetery and particularly in the Oboe and Pe- Battalion South Lancashire Re- in the graveyard of the neighbou- ter sectors. Other casualties were giment. Later the same day, the ring church. The easiest access brought here at a later date, from Shropshire Light Infantry, backed to these two sites is by the D513 the battlefields between the coast up by the armoured units of the leaving Caen, then heading left and Caen. Staffordshire Yeomanry, managed towards Hérouville. The cemete- to capture and hold Biéville-Beu- ry is located one kilometre after ville, four kilometres south of Her- leaving Ranville, on the rue des manville-sur-Mer. Many of the Airbornes. The famous Pegasus men buried in this cemetery were Bridge, as well as its museum, are killed that day, or during the push situated to the west of the village. towards Caen. 42 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Bayeux British troops entered Bayeux without difficulty on the Bayeux morning of June 7th The first town to be liberated in mainland France

n the afternoon of June British troops entered Bayeux 6th General de Gaulle without difficulty on the morning said: “The supreme of June 7th. There, too, was Maurice battle is underway. It is, Schumann, the spokesman of of course, the Battle of (one of the voices of OFrance and the Battle for France. For the BBC, he landed on June 6th the sons of France, wherever they are, at ). Without needing and whoever they are, the simple and to fight, the troops captured the sacred duty is to fight the enemy by all coastal battery of Longues-sur- means at their disposal.” Mer, and took its garrison prisoner.

“In company with our brave Allies and On June 14th 1944, de Gaulle was brothers-in-arms on all other Fronts, on board the torpedo boat La you will bring about the destruction Combattante. He landed on the of the German war machine, the beach between Courseulles and elimination of Nazi tyranny over the Graye and made his way to Bayeux oppressed peoples of Europe, and to meet the local populace. He was security for ourselves in a free world.” acclaimed by the crowd. General Eisenhower, June 6th 1944 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 43 BAYEUX N°56 - C3 BAYEUX

BAYEUX N°57 - C3 > Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy Situated close to the British Mi- Bayeux War litary Cemetery at Bayeux, the Memorial Museum is the only Cemetery one in the region to be devoted entirely to the Battle of Norman- & Memorial dy. It explains the key stages in the conflict and shows the figh- ting that took place on Norman soil after the D-Day landings, Commonwealth War Graves Commission from June 7th to August 29th 1944. Cemetery and Memorial OPENING TIMES > From 01/02 to 30/04 and from 1/10 to 31/12: The Bayeux Memorial is located on Boulevard Fa- 10am-12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm bian Ware (named after the founder of the Com- > From 1/05 to 30/09: 9.30am-6.30pm monwealth War Graves Commission, or CWGC). It Annual closing Christmas Day and New Year’s carries the names of over 1,800 soldiers who died du- Day. (Please check with us for January.) ring the course of the Battle of Normandy but who do Last admission 1 hour before the museum not have a known grave. The Memorial was designed closes. by P.D. Hepworth and inaugurated by the then Duke of Gloucester on 5 June 1955. Opposite lies Bayeux VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) War Cemetery, the CWGC’s largest in France from Full rate: 7.50€ the Second World War. It contains over 4,100 Com- Concessions: 5.50€ monwealth graves, including those of 338 unidenti- Group rate: 5.50€ fied soldiers. Another 505 war graves for the fallen Schoolchildren/students: 5€ of other nationalities also stand here, most of them Visit duration: 1 1/2 hrs + 25-minute film German. The bodies of the soldiers buried here were Children under 10, veterans: free brought from the surrounding area, including hospi- tals in the vicinity.

OPENING TIMES CONTACT CONTACT The Commission’s cemeteries are open to Commonwealth War Graves Commission Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie the public all year round. For commemo- Western Europe Area Boulevard Fabian Ware rative events and private requests, please 5-7 Rue Angèle Richard CS 10109 14400 Bayeux contact the CWCG at [email protected]. 62217 Beaurains France +33 (0)2 31 51 46 90 +33 (0) 3 21 21 77 00 [email protected] [email protected] www.bayeuxmuseum.com 44 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Cherbourg remained a strategic objective for the success of Operation Overlord Cherbourg

Cherbourg The port, a strategic objective

n February 1944, Generals Cherbourg under the orders of Eisenhower and Montgomery General Bradley. On June 21st they decided that the landings would surrounded the town. On the 25th, take place in an area 80 km they had advanced into the streets. (50 miles) long – rather than On the 26th, Fort du Roule was taken. I40 km (25 miles) – extending from General Bradley responded to the Colleville to Varreville and including inhabitants who welcomed him: “It the Cherbourg Peninsula, so that the is a pleasure to be able to say to the port of Cherbourg could be captured : here is the first large as quickly as possible. town that is returned to you.”

Cherbourg was a strategic objective On the other hand the port, for the success of Operation sabotaged by the Germans, was in Overlord. In a short space of time, a sad state: a pile of ruins. Not to the port had to be able to handle be discouraged, the soldiers set to troop ships from the , the task of making it a working port as well as munitions and machinery once more. So It was that from the needed for the conquest of Europe. middle of July, the port of Cherbourg welcomed the first Liberty Ships The Americans needed to capture arriving from the United States. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 45 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Musée de la Libération © D.Sohier CHERBOURG

CHERBOURG-EN-COTENTIN N°59 - B2 > The Museum of The Liberation At the top of the Montagne du Roule, the museum of the Liberation is housed in a Second Empire fort. Its strategic position overlooking the port made it key to the defence of Cherbourg. Hence the expression: “Whoever holds Roule holds Cher- bourg”. Once taken by the Germans, subterranean passages were dug into the rock. On June 26th 1944 the fort was retaken by the Americans. CHERBOURG-EN-COTENTIN Cherbourg was the first port to be N°58 - A2 OPENING TIMES liberated in mainland France, as Consult the calendar on citedelamer.com well as the biggest in the world, for > La Cité several months. ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) de la Mer Adults: €19 OPENING TIMES Children: €14 Open from February to November 20 Days for Cherbourg. The Cité de la Mer occupies one VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) of the most symbolic places in Adults: 4€ / Children free / Adult groups 2.50€ the liberation of Cherbourg – its Unaccompanied visit: 2 hrs transatlantic passenger station. Guided tour: 1 1/2 hrs At the heart of the visitor trail CONTACT Free on Wednesdays you’ll find a permanent exhibi- La Cité de la Mer tion and a film about the libe- Gare Maritime Transatlantique r a t i o n , s h o w n o n l a r g e s c r e e n . Cherbourg-Octeville Learn about why Utah Beach was 50100 CHERBOURG-EN-COTENTIN CONTACT added to the D-Day Landing plans +33 (0)2 33 20 26 69 Musée de la Libération of 6 June 1944. Relive the first 20 citedelamer.com Fort du Roule – Montée des Résistants days of the Battle of Normandy in 50100 CHERBOURG-EN-COTENTIN the . See how +33 (0)2 33 20 14 12 Cherbourg was turned into the [email protected] largest logistics port in the world www.ville-cherbourg.fr at that time, serving the Allies. 46 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Saint-Lô

After the bombardments of June 6th and 7th, and a month of deadlock From and particularly deadly Saint-Lô combat, Saint-Lô was capital of ruins, liberated on July 18th to Avranches

he capture of Saint- of July 1944 in the Cherbourg Lô was entrusted to Peninsula in order to open up the the Americans, who way to Brittany and to break through encountered great the lines of German defence. difficulties in taking the Ttown, an important road and rail On the evening of July 30th American junction. After the bombardments troops took Avranches. General of June 6th and 7th, and a month of Patton with the American armoured deadlock and particularly deadly divisions and the 2nd French combat, the “capital of ruins” was armoured division of Leclerc, just liberated on July 18th. landed at Utah Beach, could then start to break through massively The battle of Saint-Lô was one of towards the south. Instead of the most significant episodes in the retreating however, the German ‘battle of the hedgerows’, just before troops launched a counter-attack in . In the centre of the area of Mortain with the aim of the Cherbourg Peninsula, the war cutting through the American lines. of the hedgerows turned into a real But this was doomed to failure from . Operation Cobra was the very beginning, mainly due to the the codename given to the American almost complete lack of air cover. offensive undertaken at the end For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 47 MARIGNY N°62 - B3 > Cobra Marigny Memorial With its three exhibition rooms, the Memorial recounts the story of Operation Cobra, the name given to the American offensive carried out in the Cherbourg Peninsula at the end of July 1944, in order to open up the way to Brittany. Also included is a space dedicated to the dark years (1939-1945), and also a homage to the “poilus” or

French soldiers of the First Wor- AVRANCHES TO FROM SAINT-LÔ ld War. In all, the Memorial dis- AVRANCHES N°61 - B4 plays more than 950 photos and N°60 - B5 documents, as well as 130 period > Py Park objects. > The Art at Folligny OPENING TIMES and History Open June, July and August, Py Park is located close to the and by appointment rest of the year. museum railway station at Folligny. During the Second World War, the station ENTRANCE FEES of Avranches was the target of numerous deadly Free entry and devastating bombardments. In the heart of the old town, the After the bombardment of June outbuildings of the old episcopal 17th 1940, the station was rebuilt, palace, later transformed into a fortified and occupied by the Ger- CONTACT prison during the French revolu- man Army to allow the control Mémorial Cobra Marigny tion, today house the collections of goods traffic. Today, several 2 rue des Alleux of the museum. concrete remnants remain and 50570 MARIGNY two restored underground rooms +33 (0)2 33 56 13 82 Your visit ends with rooms dedicated to contain panels retracing wartime +33 (0)2 33 56 88 67 the Second World War, and especially the events in Folligny and its surroun- +33 (0)2 33 57 61 92 breakthrough at Avranches. dings. +33 (0)2 33 56 04 47 +33 (0)6 82 39 51 91 OPENING TIMES OPENING TIMES [email protected] From June 1st to September 30th Wednesday to Open April 1st to October 31st [email protected] Sunday 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm [email protected] VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES Free Free

CONTACT Musée d’art et d’histoire d’Avranches CONTACT Place Jean de Saint-Avit Oce de Tourisme Granville Terre et Mer 50¸300 AVRANCHES +33 (0)2 33 91 30 03 +33 (0)2 33 58 25 15 [email protected] +33 (0)2 33 79 57 01 48 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

PONTAUBAULT N°64 - B5 > François FROM SAINT-LÔ TO AVRANCHES TO FROM SAINT-LÔ Mutschler Collection MORTAIN-BOCAGE N°63 - B5 The François Mutschler Collec- tion contains an array of objects > The Saint from the Second World War, as well as postcards from the begin- Michel ning of the 20th century and photo- SAINT-LÔ graphs from 1944, and a scale mo- N°65 - B3 Chapel del of the bridge at . > Chapelle de Perched on its rock promontory OPENING TIMES 323 metres high, it offers a pano- Open on Tuesday and Thursday every la Madeleine ramic view as far as Maine and 2 weeks starting from January 6th: Brittany. You can even see the > Tuesdays from 2pm to 4.30pm US memorial Mont Saint-Michel on a clear day. > Thursdays from 2.30pm to 5pm A place of tragedy during the batt- Now restored, this old leper colo- le of August 1944 when many sol- VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES ny in Saint-Lô houses a Memorial diers lost their lives here for our Free entry to the US 29th and 35th Divisions freedom, nowadays it is a place of Unguided visits at all times that liberated the city. remembrance with its memorial Guided tours on request and one of three French depic- OPENING TIMES tions of General Eisenhower’s coat Open at weekends in July-August from of arms. 2.30pm to 6.30pm CONTACT Open year round upon request at the Tourist VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES Espace François Mutschler O˜ce (for groups) Open year round (for groups) upon request Mairie, 17 rue Patton at The Tourist O˜ce 50¸220 PONTAUBAULT VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES +33 (0)2 33 60 47 58 Free entry [email protected] www.pontaubault.fr CONTACT La Petite Chapelle Saint-Michel CONTACT 50140 MORTAIN-BOCAGE Chapelle de La Madeleine - Mémorial US +33 (0)2 33 59 19 74 Direction Bayeux [email protected] Square des Victimes du 11 Septembre 2001 50¸000 SAINT-LO +33 (0)2 14 29 00 17 [email protected] www.ot-saintloagglo.fr For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 49 SAINT-LÔ N°60N°66 - B3B5 > The Art and History museum of Saint-Lô Located in the centre of town, the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire presents very rich and varied collections. The collections offer a vast panorama of painting from the 17th century to the HUISNES-SUR-MER present day. A new exhibition area N°65N°67 - B5 of over 3,000 square feet is devoted to the rich history of Saint-Lo since > German military Neolithic times until its post-war re- cemetery AVRANCHES TO FROM SAINT-LÔ construction. The cemetery at Mont-de- The fine arts sections have been redesigned, Huisnes is the sole German mau- with more items on display, shown both soleum in Normandy, and indeed chronologically and thematically, making in the whole of France. 11,956 your visit more enjoyable and entertaining. soldiers who died in the course of The historical trail includes the reconstitution the Second World War are buried of a typical 1950s flat and a display of ma- here, along with 64 children and terials. infants. The mausoleum is a cir- cular building, 47 metres across, OPENING TIMES constructed on two levels. In the From Tuesday to Sunday centre of the interior courtyard is 2 p m > 6 p m ( l a st a d m i s s i o n at 5 . 3 0 p m ) a large cross. The mausoleum was In July and August, Tuesday to Sunday, inaugurated on September 14th 10am > 12 midday and 2pm > 6pm 1963. It offers a magnificent pano- rama over the Mont Saint-Michel. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Adults: €5.50 Children: €3

MARIGNY/LA CHAP. EN JUGER SAINT-JAMES N°68 - B3 N°69 - B5 CONTACT Musée d’art et d’histoire de Saint-Lô > German military > ABMC - Brittany La Source, Place du Champ de Mars cemetery American Cemetery 50000 Saint-Lô + 33(0)2 33 72 52 55 Inaugurated on September 20th “In Proud Remembrance of the [email protected] 1961, this cemetery contains 11,169 Achievements of Her Sons and in tombs of German soldiers who Humble Tribute to their Sacrifices died in combat. It is divided into This Memorial has been erected five long rectangles of graves sur- by the United States of America.” rounded by a slope on all sides. The cemetery, the Chapel with its Groups of crosses are dispersed Memorial Room and the Tablets throughout. From 1957 onwards, of the Missing, stand in memory the remains of soldiers formerly of the more than 4,900 service buried in numerous small cemete- members who rest here. ries were transferred here. 50 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Caen

The town became a major strategic objective to the Caen distress of its population which Six weeks fled the bombardments. of fighting

t dawn on June 6th, the During June the town became a major bombing of towns in strategic objective to the distress Normandy began. The of its population which fled the entire centre of Caen was bombardments. It wasn’t until the destroyed. The Allies’ morning of July 9th, a month after the Aobjective was to destroy the towns so D-Day Landings that Caen was finally as to obliterate all communications liberated by the Canadians arriving and to slow German reinforcements. from Saint-Germain-la-Blanche- On the morning of June 7th about ten Herbe. The British entered from the of Normandy’s towns including Caen, east and moved through the ruins. , , Saint-Lô and Vire had been wiped off the map. But the Germans still held the right bank of the river and it wasn’t until Caen and its airfield at Carpiquet July 19th that the last quarters of were keenly sought by the airmen of the town, such as , were the RAF. liberated. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 51 CAEN N°70 - C3 CAEN

From March 2020: The Caen Memorial invites you to discover The Caen a new visitor space dedicated to the Patrick Chauvel collection. War journalist and Mémorial photographer, Patrick Chauvel covered 50 years of conflict, including in Israel, museum Vietnam, Cambodia, Iran, Chechnya and Syria. On all these fronts, this war reporter left an invaluable photographic testimony.

From the origins of the Second World War to the Buy your tickets online end of the Cold War, museum exhibits recount the www.memorial-caen.fr terrible history of the 20th century. OPENING TIMES Caen, bombed during the summer of 1944 and Open all year except the month of January martyred city of the Liberation, deserved homage on (find all our opening times on a scale equal to its suffering. www.memorial-caen.fr) During the school holidays, make the most of our VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) guided tours for families and share the history of the Adults: €19.80 S e c o n d Wo r l d Wa r w i t h y o u r c h i l d r e n . Children (under 10 years of age): free Reductions (children 10>18 years of age, Watch the new immersive film, ‘Europe, Our History’, students and senior citizens): €17.50 a unique audio-visual experience, to understand our Families: €51 (for 2 adults + child(ren) 10 to common European history. This lively 17-minute- 25 years of age) long film, shown on a 360° screen, is impressive and moving, for you to discover with family or friends.

CONTACT Le Mémorial de Caen Esplanade Général Eisenhower CS 55026 - 14050 CAEN Cedex 4 +33 (0)2 31 06 06 45 [email protected] www.memorial-caen.fr 52 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com CAEN

CREULLY-SUR-SEULLES N°72 - C3 > Musée de la Radio BBC Located on the upper floors of the Château de Creully, this museum retraces the history of radio, of BBC reports broadcast from the Tour Carrée and of the liberation of Creully. Admire the unique collection of radio paraphernalia, from the 1920s to the present day, plus a temporary exhibition devoted to the French Gendarmerie Nationale in the Second World War. Make CAEN the most of the terraces offering N°71 - C3 Https://caen.app.istorypath.com/universe/4 splendid views of the Château de De nombreux autres itinéraires à découvrir Creullet, headquarters for Britain’s > Digital tour via Istorypath.Discover numerous other General Montgomery in June 1944. routes via Istorypath. of Caen OPENING TIMES OPENING TIMES From 5 May to 30 August Caen, summer 44: civilians in the battle Freely accessible > Monday from 2pm to 6pm > Tuesday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm Between June 6th and July 19th 1944 VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES to 6pm the inhabitants of Caen, caught in Anybody with a smartphone > Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and the crossfire of the Battle of Norman- Sunday, from 10am to 12.30pm and 1.45pm dy, had to be organised in order to CONTACT to 6.15pm survive. Discover how they ensured Caen La Mer Tourist Oce their food supply, and how they set Place Saint Pierre – 14000 CAEN VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) up emergency services and medi- +33 (0)2 31 27 14 14 Adults: €4 cal treatment. A digital tour across [email protected] Children (under 12): Free town with 12 stops, allowing you to www.caenlamer-tourisme.fr Tour of the Château + museum: €6 learn about daily life for thousands (from Monday to Friday) of Caen’s inhabitants during the war period. Using your smartphone, download the route for free from the web app ‘IStoryPath’. At each stop on CONTACT the tour, learn all about how the in- Musée de la Radio BBC habitants survived those times. Château de Creully, 30 Place Edmond Paillaud, 14480 CREULLY-SUR-SEULLES +33(0)2 31 80 10 61 [email protected] [email protected] www.museedelaradiobbc-creully.com For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 53

ST-MARTIN-DES-BESACES

N°73 - B4 CAEN > The Bocage Breakout Museum Nine kilometres from the route to the Vire Gorges, a 45-minute au- dio-guided visit with sound and light effects (in French or in English) brings to life the astonishing adven- ture of the combatants in the Bocage, with the help of eight exhibition areas and a huge diorama. Telling the story of their destiny makes this a moving visit.

A tour of the stelas of Hill 309 and Bull’s Bridge in TILLY-SUR-SEULLES Willy’s Jeep can be booked subject to the limited N°74 - C3 Eyewitness accounts, photographs and spaces available. An amateur radio station is avai- wartime objects punctuate the tour, and show lable upon production of a licence. > Museum of the the sužering faced by the civilian population during the Liberation of Normandy. OPENING TIMES Battle of Tilly- A dižerent temporary exhibition every 10am – 6pm. Open every weekend and on year. Book fair focusing on the Battle of public holidays from April to September. sur-Seulles Normandy, on the Sunday closest to 6 June. Open year round by advance booking for groups and school parties Housed in a 12th-century chapel, this OPENING TIMES museum brings to life the combat that From 1 May to last weekend in September, VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) took place at Tilly-sur-Seulles and in at weekends and on bank holidays, plus the Adult: 6€ / Child: 2€ the surrounding area during the three week closest to 6 June. Adult group rate: 4€ (20 people minimum) weeks following the D-Day landings. School group rate: 2€ (20 people minimum) The 30th Corps confronted VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Languages spoken: French - English two divisions of the elite 1st SS Panzer- Adults: €4 Free for children under 6 years old and veterans korps, resulting in an unusually violent Children (under 12 years of age): free conflict that severely damaged the Veterans: free village of Tilly-sur-Seulles, which was taken and retaken twenty-three times CONTACT in the space of nearly a month. Musée de la Percée du Bocage CONTACT 5 rue du 19 mars 1962 Musée de la Bataille de Tilly-sur-Seulles 14350 SAINT-MARTIN-DES-BESACES Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Val, +33 (0)2 31 67 52 78 rue du 18 juin 1944 [email protected] 14250 TILLY-SUR-SEULLES www.laperceedubocage.fr +33 (0)6 07 59 46 02 [email protected] www.museetilly.free.fr www.tilly1944.com 54 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com CAEN

BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE N°75 > Banneville- - C3 la-Campagne War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

Situated about ten kilometres east of Caen on the D675, Banne- ville-la-Campagne Military Ceme- tery contains the graves of more than 2,000 Commonwealth soldiers. Most were buried here between the second week in July and the end of August 1944, which coincided with the battle to retake Caen, the battle of the Falaise Pocket and the Allied advance on the opposite side of the Seine.

BROUAY CAMBES-EN-PLAINE -JÉRUSALEM > Brouay War N°76 - C3 > Cambes-en- N°77 - C3 > Jerusalem N°78 - C3 Cemetery Plaine War Cemetery War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commonwealth War Graves Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery Commission Cemetery Commission Cemetery

Situated beside the N13, halfway Situated 7 kilometres northwest of Situated 9 kilometres southeast of between Bayeux and Caen, Brouay Caen, on the rue du Mesnil Ricard, Bayeux, on the D6, Chouain-Jéru- Military Cemetery is the final over 200 Commonwealth victims salem Military Cemetery is one of resting place of almost 400 Com- of the war are buried here. More the smallest Commonwealth mili- monwealth soldiers. For most, their than half of them formed part of tary cemeteries in the world. The burial followed the violent com- the South Staffordshire and North majority of its 47 tombs date from bat that took place in the region Staffordshire Regiments, and fell in July 10th 1944, when the sector was between June and July 1944, when combat on July 8th and 9th, during the the scene of fierce fighting just after Allied forces attempted to encircle final assault on Caen. A large part of the liberation of Bayeux. Caen from the south. the town was liberated on July 10th. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 55

FONTENAY-LE-PESNEL >Fontenay-le- N°79 - C3 CAEN Pesnel War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

This cemetery, situated 16 kilo- metres to the west of Caen on the D139, contains the graves of more than 400 Commonwealth sol- diers. A large number of these men were killed during the battle to the west of Caen during June and July 1944. Many men from the South Staffordshire, East Lancashire and Royal Warwickshire Regiments, as well as the Durham Light Infantry, have their final resting place here.

HOTTOT-LES-BAGUES SAINT-DÉSIR-DE-LISIEUX TILLY-SUR-SEULLES > Hottot-les- N°80 - C3 > St. Desir N°82 - D4 > Tilly-sur- N°84 - C3 Bagues War Cemetery War Cemetery Seulles War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commonwealth War Graves Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery Commission Cemetery Commission Cemetery

Hottot-les-Bagues Military Ceme- The most easterly Commonwealth The military cemetery at Tilly-sur- tery is situated 14 kilometres sou- military cemetery in Normandy, Seulles is situated to the southeast theast of Bayeux on the D6. It is the the military cemetery of Saint-Dé- of Bayeux, alongside the D6. This ce- last resting place of more than 1,000 sir is located beside the D159 to the metery contains almost 1,000 Com- Commonwealth victims of the war. west of Lisieux. Many of the Com- monwealth soldiers’ graves. Princi- A large number of them fell during monwealth war dead buried here pally from the 49th and 5th Divisions, the violent combat in this sector, were killed towards the end of the as well as the 7th Armoured Division between June and the beginning of Normandy campaign, whilst pur- they fell in the fierce fighting in the July 1944. suing German forces towards the sector just after the D-Day landings. Seine.

SECQUEVILLE-EN-BESSIN SAINT-MANVIEU - CHEUX > Secqueville- N°81 - C3 > St. Manvieu N°83 - C3 en-Bessin War Cemetery War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery Commission Cemetery The military cemetery of Saint-Man- Located between Bayeux and vieu, Cheux, is situated on the D9 to Caen alongside the D217, Secque- the west of Caen. It contains more ville-en-Bessin is the last resting place than 1,600 Commonwealth military of nearly 100 Commonwealth troops. graves due to the intense fighting This battlefield cemetery contains the in the region between Tilly-sur- graves of soldiers who fell during the Seulles and Caen from mid-June to advance on Caen, which took place at the end of July 1944. the beginning of July 1944. 56 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Falaise Falaise “It is one of the greatest killing fields in the war” Eisenhower would pocket say of this battle Chambois

ust as there were three close the pocket with the help of phases to the invasion (by the Poles from the 1st armoured air, sea and bombardments division and the Americans to the by sea and air), there were east of . At Chambois also three phases in the there was a veritable “corridor JBattle of Normandy. The month of death”. On August 21st the of June was devoted to the taking German defeat in Normandy of Cherbourg. In July, Caen and was sealed. “It is one of the Saint-Lô were liberated and troops greatest killing fields in the war” advanced on Avranches. The month Eisenhower would say about this of August would see the end of the pocket. battle with the encircling of the 5th and 7th German armies in “Falaise So it was that the Battle of Pocket”. Normandy ended, after very bloody battles on each side. Now When the Canadians took Falaise Paris and the rest of Europe on August 17th they still needed to remained to be liberated… For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 57 MONT-ORMEL N°85 - D4

In four languages, this museum describes the scale of the battle and its challenges. A film (consisting of archive images and

eyewitness accounts), an animated model POCKET-CHAMBOIS FALAISE map, and relics of the fighting all add to the guide’s explanations as you stand before Mont-Ormel the battle field. OPENING TIMES Memorial From April 1st to 30th and from September 1st to October 31st daily from 10am to 5pm From May 1st to August 31st In August 1944, 9 Allied divisions encircled 100,000 daily from 9.30am to 6pm Germans in Falaise-Chambois pocket. The Battle of From November 1st to March 31st Normandy was coming to an end. Situated exactly Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday where the fighting took place, between Argentan from 10am to 5pm and , the Mont-Ormel Memorial offers outstanding views over the Dives valley. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Audio-guided visit (duration: 1 hour) The battle of Falaise-Chambois pocket (18-22 Au- [FR/GB/D/PL] gust 1944) was the last gory stage in the Battle of Adults: 5.50€ Normandy, where soldiers from Poland, Canada, Students, children (+12 years): 3.50€ Great Britain, America and France distinguished Children (6 to 12 years): 2.50€ themselves in the face of simultaneous and despe- Former combatants: 4€ rate attacks by the encircled German troops. This Adult groups: 4€ memorial site pays homage to the great strategists School groups: 2.50€ and fighters in a battle that Montgomery described WW2 veterans and attendants: free as “the beginning of the end of the war”. For bus tour groups, in addition to the tour of the museum, a guided tour of the battlefield (duration: 1 1/2hours) [FR] Year round by reservation only For rates, contact Montormel Memorial

CONTACT Mémorial de Mont-Ormel Les Hayettes 61160 Mont-Ormel +33 (0)2 33 67 38 61 [email protected] www.memorial-montormel.org 58 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com L’AIGLE N°87 - C4 N°88 - D4 > The Liberation > June 1944 of Berjou Museum, Museum L’Aigle Situated on the heights at Berjou, This museum plunges visitors near Condé-sur-Noireau, the Li- into the events that marked the beration Museum retraces the fi- Second World War, from General ghting of August 15th, 16th and 17th de Gaulle’s broadcast on June 18th 1944 around Noireau, drawing on 1940 to the defeat of the Germans numerous objects found on the during the battle of Falaise pocket. battlefield, together with expla- The museum shows eleven scenes nations from a guide. The penul- of wax figures with the real voices FALAISE POCKET-CHAMBOIS FALAISE timate battle before the closure of of the main actors of these trou- the Falaise pocket, the liberation bled times, as well as a 120-square- of Berjou was a grim episode, in- foot strategic map of the Battle of volving desperate fighting by the Normandy. Germans seeking to defend their BAGNOLES DE L’ORNE position around the community. Inaugurated in 1953 in the outbuildings NORMANDIE The museum pays homage to the of the château de L’Aigle by Madame la rd N°86 - C5 British soldiers of the 43 (Wes- Maréchale Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the sex) Infantry Division and the June 1944 Museum was the first “talking > Memorial 8th Brigade of Sherwood Rangers museum” in France. Yeomanry who distinguished Tour themselves here. OPENING TIMES Open from March 31st to September 30th: Memorial tour – Traces of war: Af- New: “Berjou, August ‘44” themed circuit Tuesday – Wednesday – Saturday – Sunday ter the US entered the war in De- with 6 information desks. from 2pm to 6pm cember 1941, and faced with the Closed from January to March and from threat of an allied invasion, Hitler OPENING TIMES October to December. ordered the building of a 4000 km Open every Sunday long line of defences along the from 6 May to 30 September, 2pm > 5.30pm. VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) length of the European coastline. There is the possibility of tours outside Audio-guided visit This would be the Atlantic Wall. normal opening period. (duration: 30 to 40 minutes) [FR/GB/NL]: One of the main support bases for Adults: 3.60€ the whole operation was establi- VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES Students, children, armed forces personnel, shed at Bagnoles de l’Orne. Huge Free jobseekers: 1.80€ reserves of fuel, food stocks and Adult groups: 2.70€ ammunition were camouflaged in School groups: 1.80€ the forest of Andaines. WW2 veterans and assistants: free CONTACT Learn for yourselves about this little Musée de la Libération de Berjou known feat from The Second World War Lieu-dit «Les Cours», 61430 BERJOU along a route of 2.6œkm (1 1/2 miles) or its [email protected] CONTACT shorter version of 1.2œkm (1/2 mile) with +33 (0)6 71 82 24 96 Musée « Juin 44 » explanatory signs along the way. www.musee-berjou.fr Mairie de L’Aigle Place Fulbert de Beina OPENING TIMES AND VISITS 61300 L’AIGLE Open access all year. Free +33 (0)2 33 84 44 44 [email protected] CONTACT www.ville-laigle.fr The Tourist Oce +33 (0)2 33 37 85 66 www.bagnolesdelorne.com For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 59

ST-NICOLAS-DES-BOIS URVILLE - LANGANNERIE FALAISE POCKET-CHAMBOIS FALAISE BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE N°90 - C5 N°91 - C4 N°89 - C4 > National Necropolis > Polish military > Bretteville-sur-Laize of Les Gateys cemetery Canadian War Cemetery This national necropolis is situated Situated on the RN 158 between Commonwealth War Graves in the Escouves forest where the Caen and Falaise (Urville exit), Commission Cemetery fiercest tank battles took place in this cemetery contains the graves August 1944. It contains the re- of 615 Polish soldiers and officers. The Canadian cemetery at mains of 19 soldiers from the 2nd A small number of them – pilots or Bretteville-sur-Laize is located 14 Armoured Division who died in resistance fighters – were killed in km south of Caen, beside the N158 the fighting to liberate the Orne 1940 during the , road. Most of the soldiers buried department. This division com- or during the Occupation. The here died in the last stages of the manded by General Philippe Le- large majority belonged to the 1st Battle of Normandy, during the clerc de Hauteclocque landed in Polish Armoured Division under taking of Caen and the push sou- the sector of Utah Beach on Au- General Maczek, who paid a heavy thwards, led in the first instance gust 1st 1944. Its participation in price during the fighting at the by the 4th Canadian Armoured Di- the liberation of the country was of Falaise-Chambois pocket. This vision and the 1st Polish Armoured great symbolic importance. It took Polish military cemetery is one of Division, in order to close off the part in the intense battles which seven foreign military cemeteries breach in the Falaise Pocket. A led to the encirclement of German maintained by the French state. large proportion of the units of troops in the Falaise-Chambois It is also the only Polish cemete- II Canadian Corps is represented pocket before taking part in the ry from the Second World War in at this cemetery, which contains . Latin crosses, France. 2,958 Second World War graves, and headstones marked with the mostly Canadian, with 87 graves Islamic crescent or the Star of Da- of unidentified dead. vid are in keeping with the spirit of union and fraternity in the 2nd Armoured Division. Unlimited access.

VIMOUTIERS The Tiger Tank Listed as a Historic Monument on December 2nd 1975, this Tiger Tank is one of the last, if not the only one still existing in Normandy.

At the end of August 1944, it ran out of fuel on its way to a refuelling base at the Chateau de L’Horloge at , and it was abandoned near Vimoutiers! 60 ForPOCHE the latest DE up-to-date FALAISE information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Normandy will bear the scars of war for a long time

uring the summer But the fighting and bombing had of 1944, the people created too many ruins and cost too of Normandy found many lives for them to celebrate themselves caught in their liberation without reserve. the midst of a gigantic The liberators were welcomed Dbattle. During the month of July, everywhere by the local population when the fighting was at its worst, and the Allies tasted cider and over two million soldiers were in the , whilst the locals could fray (twice as many as the number of savour the taste of chocolate and inhabitants of Calvados and Manche). tobacco once more. Civilian victims were numerous; to escape the bombs, people took refuge Due to the length of the Battle of in cellars, quarries and trenches. Normandy many communities far Some decided to flee along roads from the coast had to wait a long which had become dangerous due to time for the arrival of the troops. aerial strafing. The department of Manche was only completely liberated on August 15th. The Battle of Normandy lasted nearly On August 21st department of Orne three months, a lot longer than was also liberated. In Calvados, the Allied strategies had allowed for. last place to be freed was Honfleur on The liberation of communities took August 25th. The towns of Vernon and place only slowly and progressively. Rouen were liberated at the end of Then at last the people of Normandy August, Dieppe on September 1st 1944 encountered the liberating soldiers and Le Havre on the 12th. for whom they had waited so long. For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 61 FALAISE N°92 - C4

In 2020: an exhibition devoted to wartime toys and games. Explore the world of childhood during wartime The Falaise (4 April to 1 November 2020). Buy your tickets online Memorial www.memorial-falaise.fr Civilians at War OPENING TIMES Open April to start November (find all our opening hours on www.memorial-falaise.fr)

You’ll hear the extraordinary eyewitness accounts VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) of survivors, see a collection of amazing objects Adults: €7.50 from daily life and view previously unseen archive Children (under 10 years old): free material gathered from the vaults of Caen Mémorial Reduced price (10 to 18 years and the inhabitants of Falaise and the surrounding old / students / over 60s): €6.50 area. Family: €18 (2 adults and child(ren) TIME FOR A LONG WILL BEAR THE SCARS OF WAR NORMANDY An awesome film will plunge you into the heart of the between 10 and 25 years of age) living hell of the Second World War bombardments.

CONTACT Mémorial de Falaise Place Guillaume le Conquérant 14700 Falaise +33 (0)2 31 06 06 45 [email protected] www.memorial-falaise.fr 62 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com DUCLAIR N°93 - E3 > August 1944 Museum, Hell on The Seine At the end of August 1944 the or- der for a general retreat was given to German forces. Tens of thou- sands of German soldiers then attempted to flee the advance of the Allies, but found themselves blocked by the Seine. TOSNY N°95 - E3 The aim of this museum is to commemorate those tragic hours of > Museum of fighting followed by the hours of relief at liberation. With scenes incorporating the Second thousands of period objects like uniforms and weapons, with accounts by soldiers, World War civilians, and eyewitnesses of the fighting, you can come to understand the history of This private museum of around the last battles in the Battle of Normandy. 10,000 square feet brings together a collection made over more than >8, 9 and 10 May 2020 -L’ORCHER 40 years by its owner. During the th Commemorations of May 8 1945 N°94 - D3 visit, you can see a V1 bomb, a Ger- 400 contributors in period clothes and man Goliath (a radio-controlled over 80 Second World War vehicles. Show, > Maison du destruction device with caterpillar events etc. tracks), French guns, telephones Patrimoine and country radar telephones, OPENING TIMES around 30 manikins in uniform Open throughout the year on request. et des Cités showing the seven main partici- Open to the public from 1st June until 15th pants in the war, photographs, September from Wednesday to Sunday 2pm provisoires posters and period newspapers… NORMANDY WILL BEAR THE SCARS OF WAR FOR A LONG TIME FOR A LONG WILL BEAR THE SCARS OF WAR NORMANDY to 6pm. The so-called Cigarette Camps OPENING TIMES VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) were transit camps for GIs waiting > April – May – September: weekends and Adults 5€ to return to the USA. At Gonfreville public holidays only from 2.30pm to 7pm Children (10 to 16 yrs old) 3€ l’Orcher, the Philip Morris Camp > June – July – August: daily except Tuesday Group (by appointment) 4€ saw over one million men pass from 2.30pm to 7pm Unaccompanied visit: 30 mins / through between 1945 and 1947. It Guided tour: 1hr then provided emergency accom- VISITS AND ENTRANCE FEES (Prices ‘from’) Free for veterans and group leaders modation, for 35 more years, for Le Adult: 7 € Havre citizens left homeless due to Child (aged 10 to16 yrs) : 2 € the 1944 bombardments of the city. Group : 6 € (by appointment) The guided tour with commentary CONTACT OPENING TIMES lasts 1hr 30mins. Musée Août 44 Free tours Wednesdays and Saturdays 2pm Château du Taillis > 5.30pm. Guided tours by rendez-vous, 76480 DUCLAIR Tuesdays to Saturdays. Free. +33(0)2 35 37 95 46 / +33(0)6 83 82 22 89 CONTACT [email protected] Musée de la Seconde Guerre mondiale www.chateaudutaillis.com RD 135, 27700 TOSNY CONTACT +33 (0)2 32 54 30 30 / +33 (0)6 34 32 60 04 Maison du Patrimoine et des Cités provisoires [email protected] 2a & 2b rue du 8 mai 1945 76700 GONFREVILLE L’ORCHER +33 (0)2 35 13 16 53 [email protected] For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 63

SAINT-CHARLES-DE-PERCY N°96 - B4 > St-Charles-de-Percy War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

Situated along the D290 A, the Saint-Charles-de-Percy Milita- ry Cemetery is the southernmost military cemetery in Normandy. Most of the men buried here were killed at the end of July and the be- ginning of August 1944, during the major push from Caumont-l’Even- té towards Vire. Just over 800 dead from the Commonwealth are interred here.

SAINT-DÉSIR-DE-LISIEUX N°97 - D3 > German military cemetery

The German military cemetery at Saint-Désir-de-Lisieux contains the bodies of 3,735 victims of war who fell during the violent fighting along the River Toques, between its mouth and Lisieux and . Construction started in 1957-1958, and the cemetery was inaugurated TIME FOR A LONG WILL BEAR THE SCARS OF WAR NORMANDY on September 21st 1961. 64 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com The events and entertainments of the D-Day Festival Normandy D-DAY FESTIVAL NORMANDY The section on the celebrations planned for the anniversary of the D-Day Landings Each year around 6th June, the tourist oces of the Landing Beaches area invite you to celebrate freedom! During the D-Day Festival Normandy, visitors will enjoy a popular program of festive and cultural events. Parachute drops, military vehicle

parades, open-air dances, Production © Bokeh exhibitions, etc. With more than a hundred events, the Festival promises to be a beautiful and moving celebration for the D-Day Landings anniversary ! We wish you a pleasant stay in Normandy! © M.Quemener - OT Bayeux Intercom Bayeux - OT © M.Quemener

Full program on www.ddayfestival.com For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 65 © Bokeh Production © Bokeh ©Studio Debeaupte Carentan ©Studio Debeaupte ©Charlotte Fleurial ©Charlotte © Yves Mainguy © Yves © Bokeh Production © Bokeh

Full program on www.ddayfestival.com 66 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com Excursions AROUND EUROPE BATTLEFIELDS TOURS and guided tours Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English Tél. 02 31 22 35 68 / 06 22 83 11 94 [email protected] www.normandy-travel.net MINIBUS Whole day tours EXCURSIONS NORMANDY SHUTTLE ALBION VOYAGES Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Excursions on the D-Day Landing beaches Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English Rue Jacques Prévert - 14730 Tél. 06 37 27 04 67 Tél. 02 31 78 88 88 [email protected] [email protected] www.normandy-shuttle.fr www.albion-voyages.com Half-day or whole day tours

ACSM TOURS BAYEUX SHUTTLE Excursions on the D-Day Landing beaches Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons CAEN Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English Tél. 02 31 06 00 15 Tél. 02 33 44 88 40 / 06 59 70 72 55 [email protected] [email protected] www.acsm-tours.com www.bayeuxshuttle.com

LABEL WEST OVERLORD TOUR Excursions on the D-Day Landing beaches Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons ZA Les Bréholles - 14540 Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English Tél. 02 31 34 63 53 / Tél. 06 21 51 41 09 Tél. 07 89 00 28 41 [email protected] [email protected] www.label-west.com www.overlordtour.com Half-day or whole day tours NORMANDY TOURS NORMANDY SIGHTSEEING TOURS Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English Tél. 02 31 92 10 70 Tél. 02 31 51 70 52 [email protected] [email protected] www.normandy-landing-tours.com www.normandy-sightseeing-tours.com Half-day tours only Half-day or whole day tours NORMANDY CIRCUITS NORMANDY PANORAMA Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French, English, Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English Spanish and Portuguese Tél. 06 98 95 89 45 Tél. 06 63 01 12 71 / 09 83 33 11 05 [email protected] [email protected] www.normandypanorama.com www.normandycircuits.com Half-day or whole day tours NORMANDY 44 TOURS DAY DISCOVERY TOUR OF THE CAEN MEMORIAL AND Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches D-DAY LANDING BEACHES in French and in English Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Tél. 06 45 31 73 85 / 02 31 73 31 80 Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English [email protected] Tel. 02 31 06 06 45 www.normandy44-tours.com [email protected] Half-day or whole day tours www.memorial-caen.fr Whole day tours For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com 67 GUIDED TOURS IN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES GOLD BEACH COMPANY NORMANDY & DDAY TOURS L’ÉQUINETTE Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches Guided excursions in horse-drawn carriages Tél. 09 67 82 05 14 “In the footsteps of our Liberators” [email protected] Tel. 02 31 10 03 77 / 06 70 04 42 29 www.normandy-dday-tours.com [email protected] www.lequinette.com NORMANDIE CAR SERVICE Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English Tél. 02 31 44 01 24 / 06 24 43 03 74 GUIDED TOURS [email protected] BY BICYCLE www.normandie-car-service.info Whole day tours CIRCUIT SUR LES PLAGES DU DÉBARQUEMENT À VÉLO Guided tours by bike NORMANDY HERITAGE TOURS TeL. 06 46 34 37 21 Minibus excursions for 1 to 8 persons [email protected] Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches in French and in English www.locvelo.fr Tél. 02 31 39 73 56 / 06 63 29 45 98 Whole day tour, every Monday from May to October [email protected] www.normandy-heritage-tours.com Half-day or whole day tours NORMANDY PRIVATE TOURS FLIGHTS Hotel and private excursions on the D-Day Landing beaches with your host and an audio-guide. HÉLIEVÈNEMENTS Tél. 06 25 01 82 27 Helicopter flights over the Landing Beaches from Englesqueville [email protected] la Percée (between Pointe du Hoc and the American cemetery) www.hotelfontaine-caen.com Tel. 02 35 80 94 16/ 06 22 69 08 79 [email protected] www.helievenements.com GUIDED TOURS IN PERIOD In June and August (weather permitting) WARTIME VEHICLES NORMAN’AIR Microlight flights over the Landing Beaches JEEP TOUR Caen-Carpiquet Airport (weather permitting) Guided tour in the paths of the 101st Airborne Division Tel. 06 75 25 29 30 Tél. 02 33 44 81 20 / 06 37 99 08 68 / 06 89 66 25 74 [email protected] [email protected] www.ulmactivites.fr www.batterie-du-holdy.com NORMANDY DISCOVERY Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches FEDERATION Tél. 06 08 71 18 82 OF THE GUIDES [email protected] www.normandy-discovery.com OF NORMANDY CHEROKEE EQUITATION LOISIRS [email protected] www.guidesdenormandie.fr www.normandyguides.com www.normandyguides.com Guided tours of the D-Day landing beaches www.guidesdenormandie.fr Tél. 06 12 06 03 96 [email protected] www.cherokee.equitation.free.fr NORMANDY BATTLEFIELD NORMANDY JEEP TOUR TOUR GUIDES ASSOCIATION Historical tour with commentary aboard an authentic Willy’s jeep Sainte Mère Eglise, tél. 02 33 41 39 81 / 06 76 16 95 20 www.normandy-battlefield-tour-guides-association.com www.normandy-discovery.com 68 For the latest up-to-date information, go to www.normandy-dday.com

Liberation Route Europe is a continuous- pe Foundation’s major projects include ly growing, international remembrance a large-scale international awareness trail that connects important milestones campaign to commemorate the 75th an- from modern European history. It forms a niversary of theend of the war called ‘Eu- link between the main regions impacted rope Remembers’, the development of an by the liberation of Europe in 1944-1945. international travel guide in cooperation Moreover, LRE was certifi ed as a Cultural with publisher Rough Guides, the deve- Route of the Council of Europe in May of lopment of an international long-distan- 2019. ce hiking trail, following the Allied advan- ce, from London to . With over 250 partners, including the Re- gion of Normandy, Liberation Route Euro-

Discover the important sites and inspiring stories from this period across Europe.

www.liberationroute.com

main strategic partner

Cultural route of the Council of Europe Itinéraire culturel du Conseil de l’Europe @liberationroute COMITÉ RÉGIONAL COMITÉ DÉPARTEMENTAL DE TOURISME DE NORMANDIE DU TOURISME DE L’ORNE www.normandie-tourisme.fr www.ornetourisme.com

COMITE DEPARTEMENTAL SEINE-MARITIME ATTRACTIVITÉ DU TOURISME DU CALVADOS www.seine-maritime-tourisme.com www.calvados-tourisme.com

COMITE DEPARTEMENTAL COMITE DEPARTEMENTAL DU TOURISME DE LA MANCHE DU TOURISME DE L’EURE www.manchetourisme.com www.eure-tourisme.fr Credits

Publication Director Photo credits Notice Michael Dodds L.Belither, E.Clabaud, D.Commenchal, Edition « 1944 D-Day J.M. Caillard, G.Conraud, C.Coquilleau, Normandie Terre de Liberté » Coordination F.Cormon, M.Dehaye, P.Diologent, Dominique Saussey C.Dubreuil, C.Duchemin, F.Dunouau, This document, published in P. Delval, J.Eloy, J.Galataud, N.Hateau, March 2020, from information Design and Production T.Houyel, P.Jeanson, C.Lagu, A.Lahaye, supplied by the featured tourist Benjamin Déal J.B.Le Goubey, A.Lamoureux, service providers, is advisory Printing L.Lemarchand, P.Y.Lemeur, S. Lorkin, only and not contractual. W.Page, R.Pelletier, A.Poirier, J. Imp. Lecerf groupe Morault The publisher does not in any Quellien, M.Quemener, H.Salah, way accept responsibility for any D.Sohier, E.Valère, J.P.Vincent, G.Wait, accidental errors or omissions B.Wolfgang, SMA76-H.Salah that may appear in this guide, American Battle Monuments despite the checks carried Commission 2013, Calvados Tourisme, out by the editorial team. CC Côte d’Albâtre, CD Manche, CRT Normandie, Mémorial de Caen, NVC, OT Aumale Blangy sur Bresle, OT Baie 10-31-1668 du Cotentin, OT Bayeux Intercom, Bayeux Museum, OTC Ste-Mère-Église, Certifié PEFC OT St-Lo Agglo, Overlord Museum, pefc-france.org OIT Fécamp, Mairie de Manneville-sur- Risle, US National archives & Records administration Anibas Photography, Ecom-Epub, Food-Images, Fotolia.com, Goodluz, Imprimerie Anquetil, L.A. Pyrotechnie, Wanaiifi lms.com, Shutterstock, Studio Numérique, BabXIII Acknowledgments

Our grateful thanks go to the Region Normandy, to the editing team of this guide, to the tourist boards of the Calvados, Eure, Manche, Orne and Seine Maritime Departments, to Monsieur Jean Quellien for checking the historic content, and to the Caen Memorial for the loan of archive photographs. Index of Communes and military cemeteries

E R INDEX Écausseville 16 Ranville 37, 41 OF COMMUNES Reviers 35 F Ryes 33 Falaise 61 A Fécamp 6 S Ardouval 5 Folligny 47, 48 Saint-Charles-de-Percy 63 Arromanches-les-Bains 29, 30 Fontenay-le-Pesnel 55 Saint-Côme-du-Mont 13 Aumale-Blangy 5 Forges-les-Eaux 7 Saint-Désir 55, 63 Avranches 47 Sainte-Mère-Église 18 Azeville 15 G Saint-James 49 Géfosse-Fontenay 23, 24 Saint-Jouin-Bruneval 8 Gonfreville-l’Orcher B 62 Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer 24, 25 Bagnoles-de-l’Orne 58 Grandcamp-Maisy 24 Saint-Lô 48, 49 Bagnoles de l’Orne Normandie 58 Saint-Manvieu-Norrey 55 Credits Banneville-la-Campagne 54 H Saint-Marcouf-de-l’Isle 16, 17 Bayeux 43 Hautot-sur-Mer 9 Saint-Marie-du-Mont 11 Bazenville 33 Hermanville-sur-Mer 41 Saint-Martin-des-Besaces 52, 53 Bénerville-sur-Mer 5 Honfl eur 7 Saint-Mère-Église 12 Bénouville 37 Hottot-les-Bagues 55 Saint-Nicolas-des-Bois 59 Bény-sur-Mer 35 Huisnes-sur-Mer 49 Secqueville-en-Bessin 55 Berjou 58 L Bretteville-sur-Laize 59 La Cambe 26 T Brouay 54 La Chapelle en juger 49 Tatihou 16 L’Aigle 58 Tilly-sur-Seulles 53, 55 C Tosny 62 Caen 51 Langannerie 59 Cambes-en-Plaine 54 Le Tréport 7, 8 U Carentan 14, 15 Longues-sur-Mer 31 Urville 59 Catz 14 M Champigny-la-Futelaye 9 V Manneville-sur-Risle 8 Ver-sur-Mer 33 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin 45 Marigny 47, 49 Cheux 55 Vierville-sur-Mer 25 Merville-Franceville 38 Vimoutiers 59 Chouain 43, 54 Montormel 57 Colleville-Montgomery 39 Mortain-Bocage 48 Colleville-sur-Mer 21, 23, 27 INDEX OF Colombières 23 O MILITARY Commes 32 18 CEMETERIES Courseulles-sur-Mer 35 Ouistreham 40 Acknowledgments Creully-sur-Seulles 52 American 27, 49 Cricqueville-en-Bessin 22 P Paluel 8 Commonwealth 9, 33, 35, 41, 43, 54, 55, 59, 63 D Pontaubault 48 French 59 Dieppe 6 Port-en-Bessin 32 German 9, 18, 26, 49, 63 Douvres-la-Délivrande 39, 41 Polish 59 Duclair 62 Q Quinéville 17 Map Museums, natural attractions and military cemeteries

THE ALLIES PREPARE 37 The German military Cemetery of La Cambe p.26 66 German military cemetery p.49 FOR D-DAY 38 Normandy American Cemetery and Visitor Center p.27 67 German military cemetery p.49 Le Tréport 01 V1 Launch Sites p.5 68 ABMC - Brittany American Cemetery p.49 08 02 Le Val Ygot p.5 GOLD BEACH 03 Mont Canisy gun batteries p.5 39 Arromanches 360 circular Cinema p.29 CAEN Dieppe Aumale-Blangy 04 Memorial of the 19th August 1942 p.6 40 The Landings Museum p.30 70 The Caen Mémorial museum p.51 13 04 01 05 The Blockhouses of Cape Fagnet p.6 41 German Gun Battery of Longues-sur-Mer p.31 71 Digital tour of Caen p.52 10 06 42 72 The Normandy Resistance Museum p.7 Museum of undersea wrecks p.32 Musée de la Radio BBC p.52 Paluel A 28 Ardouval 07 The Station Blockhouse p.7 43 America Gold Beach Museum p.33 73 The Bocage Breakout Museum p.53 05 02 08 Kahl Burg p.7 44 Ryes War Cemetery p.33 74 Museum of the Battle of Tilly-sur-Seulles p.53 Cherbourg Étretat Fécamp 09 The Resistance and Deportation Museum p.8 75 Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery p.54 58 59 St-Pierre- A 29 10 A 28 The Alabaster Memorial p.8 JUNO BEACH 76 Brouay War Cemetery p.54 Église 11 A 29 A 29 11 The Bruneval Memorial p.8 45 Juno Beach Centre p.35 77 Cambes-en-Plaine War Cemetery p.54 22 St-Jouin- 06 12 German military cemetery p.9 46 Bény-sur-mer Canadian War Cemetery p.35 78 Jerusalem War Cemetery p.54 25 Brunneval A 151 Forges-les-Eaux 13 79 Guernesey 21 A 29 A 28 Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery p.9 Fontenay-le-Pesnel War Cemetery p.55 23 24 80 Hottot-les-Bagues War Cemetery p.55 Le Havre 94 A 131 SWORD BEACH 27 UTAH OMAHA UTAH BEACH 47 The Pegasus Memorial p.37 81 Secqueville-en-Bessin War Cemetery p.55 Honfleur 93 Barneville Ste-Mère- 07 48 82 GOLD Trouville SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE Merville Gun Battery Museum p.38 Saint-Desir War Cemetery p.55 Carteret Église JUNO A 13 14 Utah Beach D-Day Landing Museum p.11 49 Hillman Strongpoint p.39 83 Saint-Manvieu War Cemetery p.55 03 A 132 A 29 09 ROUEN N 13 SWORD 15 Airborne Museum p.12 50 1944 Radar Museum p.39 84 Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery p.55 Bayeux Carentan 72 Cabourg o A 13 19 D-Day Experience p.13 51 N 4 Commando Museum p.40 Pont-l’Evêque A 28 95 17 Normandy Victory Museum p.14 52 Atlantic Wall Museum The Bunker p.40 FALAISE POCKET Chouain 78 76 77 A 13 Tilly-sur- Les Andelys 18 53 79 74 83 84 Azeville Gun Battery p.15 La Délivrande War Cemetery p.41 CHAMBOIS 68 Seulles 70 71 75 82 19 U.S Assault Landing Craft (Higgins boat) p.15 54 p.41 8 5 Mont-Ormel Memorial p.57 Marigny 62 65 66 Hottot-les-Bagues 80

Lisieux 154 N CAEN 97 20 The Carentan 1944 Historical Trail p.15 55 Ranville War Cemetery p.41 86 Memorial Tour p.58 SAINT-LÔ Vernon N 174 21 Airship Hangar p.16 87 Coutances Bernay The Liberation of Berjou Museum p.58 A 84 Villers- 89 22 The Fort of Tatihou p.16 BAYEUX 88 June 1944 Museum, L’Aigle p.58 73 Bocage 91 PARIS 23 Marcouf 44 Command post p.16 56 & Memorial p.43 89 Bretteville/Laize Canadian War Cemetery p.59 Urville- Evreux Langannerie 24 Crisbecq Gun Battery p.17 57 Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy p.43 90 National Necropolis of Les Gateys p.59 96 St-Charles- 92 Falaise Vimoutiers 12 25 World War II Museum p.17 91 Polish military cemetery p.59 A 84 de-Percy Granville 87 Trun N 154 26 Open-air museum p.18 CHERBOURG 61 N 158 Villedieu- Vire Condé/Noireau 85 27 58 A 28 German military cemetery p.18 Cité de la Mer p.45 NORMANDY WILL A 88 les-Poëles Flers Mont-Ormel Gacé 59 The Museum of The Liberation p.45 BEAR THE SCARS OF 88 OMAHA BEACH WAR FOR A LONG TIME MONT SAINT MICHEL Argentan L’Aigle Avranches A 88 28 92 Overlord Museum Omaha Beach p.21 FROM SAINT-LÔ The Falaise Memorial Civilians at War p.61 63 6460 29 La Pointe du Hoc p.22 TO AVRANCHES 93 August 1944 Museum, Hell on The Seine p.62 Domfront 67 St-Hilaire- La Ferté-Macé Sées 30 Big Red One Assault Museum p.23 60 The Art and History museum of Avranches p.47 94 Maison du Patrimoine et des Cités provisoires p.62 Huisnes/Mer SAINT-MALO 69 du-Harcouët 86 31 Colombières Castle p.23 61 Py Park at Folligny p.47 95 Museum of the Second World War p.62 St-James Nécropole A 28 Bagnoles de l’Orne des Gateys N 12 32 Tour of Géfosse-Fontenay Blockhouse p.23 62 Cobra Marigny Memorial p.47 96 St-Charles-de-Percy War Cemetery p.63 Normandie Mortagne- 90 33 Maisy Gun Battery p.24 63 The Saint Michel Chapel p.48 97 German military cemetery p.63 au-Perche 34 Liberation House p.24 64 François Mutschler Collection p.48 ALENÇON 35 Omaha Beach Memorial Museum p.25 65 Chapelle de la Madeleine US memorial p.48 36 The Omaha D-Day Museum p.25 66 The Art and History museum of Saint-Lô p.49 LE MANS

20 km 22

Valognes 25 Quinéville

Montebourg 23 24

18

15 26 UTAH OMAHA Sainte-Mère 29 Église 14 33 36 Honfleur Sainte-Marie Grandcamp-Maisy du Mont Vierville-sur-Mer N 13 32 38 GOLD 34 35 N 13 Saint-Laurent 28 30 JUNO 16 37 42 sur-Mer Colleville 41 39 40 Saint-Côme du Mont La Cambe sur-Mer Port-en-Bessin 43 Arromanches-les-Bains 17 Huppain Ver-sur-Mer 45 Luc-sur-Mer SWORD Le Tréport 19 20 Catz Isigny-sur-Mer 44 Courseulles sur-Mer 08 Carentan 31 Trévières Ryes Villers-sur-Mer Colombières N 13 46 50 53 54 72 Douvres Hermanville 56 57 Creully-sur-Seulles la-Délivrande sur-Mer Dieppe 51 52 Cabourg Aumale-Blangy 48 49 Ouistreham 13 04 Pont-l’Évêque A 13 01 B3 Mathieu 10 81 Bénouville 47 55 Paluel A 28 Ardouval N 13 Cherbourg Étretat 05 02 Fécamp 58 59 St-Pierre- A 29 Caen A 28 Église 11 A 13 A 29 A 29 Les Pieux 22 St-Jouin- 06 Valognes 25 Brunneval A 151 Forges-les-Eaux Guernesey 21 A 29 A 28 23 24 Le Havre 94 A 131 27 UTAHUTAH OMAHA Honfleur 93 Barneville Ste-Mère-Ste-Mère- 07 GOLD Trouville Carteret Église JUNO A 13 03 A 132 A 29 09 ROUEN N 13 SWORD CCarentanarentan 72 Cabourg Jersey Pont-l’Evêque A 28 A 13 95 78 76 77 A 13 Tilly-sur- Les Andelys 79 74 83 84 68 Seulles 70 71 75 82 Marigny 62 65 66 Hottot-les-Bagues 80 CAEN Lisieux 154 N SAINT-LÔ 97 Vernon Coutances N 174 Bernay A 84 Villers- 89 73 Bocage 91 PARIS Urville- Livarot Evreux Langannerie 96 St-Charles-s 92 Falaise Vimoutiers 12 A 84 de-Percyercy Granville 87 Trun N 154 61 N 158 Vire Condé/Noireau 85 Villedieu- A 28 les-Poëles Flers A 88 Mont-Ormel Gacé 88 Briouze MONT SAINT MICHEL Argentan L’Aigle Avranches A 88 63 60 64 67 St-Hilaire- La Ferté-Macé Huisnes/Mer Sées SAINT-MALO 69 du-Harcouët 86 St-James Bagnoles de l’Orne Nécropole A 28 Normandie des Gateys N 12 Mortagne- 90 au-Perche RENNES ALENÇON LE MANS

A B C

20 km

20 km 22

Valognes 25 Quinéville

Montebourg 23 24

18 C3 Museum

Natural attraction 15 26 UTAH OMAHA Sainte-Mère 29 Église 14 Military cemetery 33 36 Honfleur Sainte-Marie Grandcamp-Maisy du Mont Vierville-sur-Mer N 13 32 38 GOLD Mobile app 34 35 N 13 Saint-Laurent 28 30 JUNO 16 37 42 1 sur-Mer Colleville 41 39 40 Deauville Saint-Côme du Mont La Cambe sur-Mer Port-en-Bessin 43 Arromanches-les-Bains 17 Huppain Ver-sur-Mer 45 Luc-sur-Mer SWORD Le Tréport 19 20 Catz Isigny-sur-Mer 44 Courseulles sur-Mer 08 Carentan 31 Trévières Ryes Villers-sur-Mer Colombières N 13 Bayeux 46 50 53 54 72 Douvres Hermanville 56 57 Creully-sur-Seulles la-Délivrande sur-Mer Dieppe 51 52 Cabourg Aumale-Blangy 48 49 Ouistreham 13 04 Pont-l’Évêque A 13 01 Mathieu 81 Bénouville 47 55 Ardouval A 28 N 13 02 Cherbourg Étretat 2 Fécamp 58 59 St-Pierre- A 29 Caen A 28 Église 11 A 13 A 29 A 29 Les Pieux 22 St-Jouin-S 06 Valognes 25 BrunnevalBrunn A 151 Forges-les-Eaux Guernesey 21 A 29 A 28 23 24 Le Havre A 131 27 UTAH OMAHA Honfleur 93 Barneville Ste-Mère- 07 GOLD Trouvillerouville Carteret Église JUNO A 13 03 A 132 A 29 09 ROUEN N 13 Bayeux SWORD 3 Carentan 72 Cabourg Jersey Pont-l’Evêque A 28 A 13 95 Chouain 78 76 77 A 13 Tilly-sur- Les Andelys 79 74 83 84 68 Seulles 70 71 75 82 Marigny 62 65 66 Hottot-les-Bagues 80 CAEN Lisieux 154 N SAINT-LÔ Vernon Coutances N 174 Bernay A 84 Villers- 89 73 Bocage 91 PARIS Urville- Livarot Evreux Langannerie 96 4 St-Charles- 92 Falaise Vimoutiers 12 A 84 de-Percy Granville 87 Trun N 154 61 N 158 Vire Condé/Noireau 85 Villedieu- A 28 les-Poëles Flers A 88 Mont-Ormel Gacé 88 Briouze MONT SAINT MICHEL Argentan L’Aigle Avranches A 88 63 6460 Domfront 67 St-Hilaire- La Ferté-Macé Huisnes/Mer Sées SAINT-MALO 69 du-Harcouët 86 St-James Nécropole A 28 Bagnoles de l’Orne 5 Normandie des Gateys N 12 Mortagne- 90 au-Perche RENNES ALENÇON 20 km LE MANS

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20 km

20 km On our history is set in concrete! ©Sabina Lorkin - Anibas Photography ©Sabina Lorkin

Secret of the remains of the Mulberry B at low tide on the beach in Arromanches-les-Bains.

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