Normandy WW11 trip
I am planning a WW2 trip to Normandy May /June 2017 intension are to go over from Hull - so far me, car n caravan and friends with motorhome, 10 to 14 days. Can anybody recommend sites and places of interest. With a trip like this there are going to be
places that others have seen and would recommend. Are there any DA going over !!
Thanks Fred
Comments
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We stayed at Campsite La Roseraie d'Omaha which was very pleasant. Close to the American Cemetary and also not far from Bayeux, which is well worth a visit.
Some people we know stayed at Camping du Joncal and said that was also good.
Both are in the ACSI scheme.
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Seem to remember we stayed at the municiple at Arromanches, a good museum of the D-day landings there and don't miss St Mere Eglise.
From my notes:
I have read the books and seen the films but standing above Gold
and Omaha Beaches I was still taken aback at the exposed positions of the landing forces. I think everyone should visit this area at least once in their lives and reflect and remember what many men died for. We stayed on the municiple site in Arromanches. There is an adjacent aire but it was full. From here it was a short easy walk to the sea front to view what is left of the Mulberry Harbour and to visit the well presented "6th June 1944" museum. A steep walk up the hill will take you to the war time positions overlooking Arromanches and Gold beach. A 360 degree cinema presents an interesting film about the invasion. There is also a large car park by the cinema so you can drive up to it if you cannot face the walk. A free 'road train' also plies the route. From here we visited the peaceful haven of the British cemetery at Ryes (not easy to find tucked away in the countryside) then on along the coast road to the American cemetery above Omaha Beach. Both very moving experiences. St Mere Eglise was next. We parked in the square overlooked by the dangling paratrooper which still adorns the church tower. We were not charged to visit the Airborne Museum.peedee
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We had a lovely and interesting time in Arromanches. We were following one of Major & Mrs Holt's routes down the coast.
There is a Commonwealth cemetary on the ring road around Bayeux, where a large number of British soldiers are memorialised.
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i seem to remember that the Beyeux site is walking distance to the centre of town, also Beyeux is pretty central for touring the area.
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whilst in the area do visit the German cemetry.Built in what seems to be a bomb crator...outside the walls you can hear thebirds sing and all the sounds of the countryside.....inside...perfect silence..no bird song even!The ages of the fallen were the biggest
shock that I had....so young and so many!It is my firm beleife that everyone should visit Normandy as part of their education on the folly of war!There is an awful lot to see in the area so take at least two weeks.0 -
A visit to the western front is equally salutary.
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A friend of our has booked a gite in the Somme for the Christmas/New Year period - he always has a little pilgrimage and this year we're driving out to meet him on Dec 28 and returning Jan 2. Agree, we all should make these trips at least once.
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We spent a few days on the Somme a couple of weeks ago.Agreed that enjoy is not the right word but so worthwhile to pay our respects to a fallen generation.
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My son and I plus a couple of friends annually visit WW1 & 2 sites. Carantan has a good Muni (mentioned earlier) very clean and tidy. For Normandy follow a good guide such as the Holts and allow a morning or afternoon at the American Cemetery to thoroughly
soak it in. On the main route up to Cherbourg there is an awesome museum where all the exhibits are in full working order including the aircraft and tank/plane rides are available. Also worth taking time out for are the huge (I mean HUGE) German concrete installations
near Calais (La Cupole) V1 & V11 manufacturing/ launch sites.0 -
I've stayed at camping Portland, near Port au Bessin, which is a nice site and very central for the main beaches. Les Mouettes near Dieppe and Le Cormoran near St Mere Eglise are both nice too. I would recommed visiting some of the smaller British cemeteries
that are dotted around and found Aromanche really fascinating too, it's truly amazing what was achieved there. All the museums etc are really good, we bought a 'pass' that gave us discounted entry to almost all the sites and it more than paid for itself over
our stay(s). There are just so many things to visit that a really good guide and/or lots of research beforehand to decide which ones to go to is well worthwhile.0 -
We visited the area about 10 years ago, and found it very interesting to the point of being stunning.
but just last weekend we passed though Caen, and picked up a brochure for the 2016 D Day festival. Now passed of course, but you might find the website useful. Www.ddayfestival.com
incidentally, the festival lasts 2 weeks so I guess the same next year.
also try www.normandy-dday.com
we too are thinking about visiting during the 2017 festival
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