What To See On Normandy Beaches Trip?

Hi all, this is my first post, I hope you can help...

I've got two days at the Normandy beaches coming up in July.
I'm camping near Pegasus Bridge and have the car with me for transport.
I need to hone my itinerary to perfection otherwise I'll be like a headless chicken and miss the most interesting stuff.

Anyone got any 'must see' and any 'leave till another day' tips for me?

All the best,

Matt

 

Hi there I'm new to this Forum myself in fact I only joined this morning, anyway you will get some much more interesting reply's than me but I'll tell you where we went last year as we attended the 60 th Anniversary, we stayed at St Aubin a stones throw from Juno Beech which in its self is an interesting place and we met many Canadian Veterans, we went to see the Merville Battery, spent many hours at Pegasus Bridge in the museum and cafe Gondree, we also went to the war cemetary and museum at Bayeux its hard not to be emotional as you pass by the many British graves, we visited all the beeches, and enjoyed Arromances museum and mulberry harbour, it seems poor for a week but I still enjoyed it, I had to share the week with my family plus it was packed for obvious reasons, you tend to stumble on all sorts of monuments whilst on your travalls so keep your eye's peeled whilst on the move, we are going next year and I plan to really explore the area, I'm sorry I cannot be as helpful as I would like but I advise you to purchas a Battlefield Tour Guide from any repitable bookshop they are a great help and if you dont manage to pick one up here there is plenty of material over there Cheers Brenfan.

 

Hi Matt - thanks also for your email.

Have a look at my webiste for some ideas:

http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/normandy_battlefields.htm

If you are looking for unmissable sites, I would say in the area where you are Pegasus Bridge, the Pegasus Memorial Museum, plus Merville Battery all excellent. You could then take a drive along the British beaches ending up a Arromanches: that should fill your time and give you an appetite for more visits!

 

If you get to the American sector, Omaha Beach is impressive, but remember that the sea wall etc. is different now than in 1944. The museum at Utah Beach is quite good and on a nice day, it is a good beach for a walk, as it is not developed.

Sainte Maire Eglise is very tacky and commercially very exploited. Best avoided.

The Holts battlefield guide is quite good to have in the car and to help you plan a route.

 

I was at Pegasus Bridge from the word go. helped defend it, have a look at Hillman, the huge German defensive position. I slept on top of it amongst the German dead. Our officer won the Creux de geurre at Hillman

Have a look at Sword Beach, the heaviest defended of all the Normandy Beaches,

Have a look at the "Bloodiest square Mile in Normandy" The Chateau de la Londe, See Le Bisley wood. Have a look at Hermanville where there is a small museum run by my good friends, Colette and Jaques Tirard. you may even see my ugly mug on the wall.

Then do me a favour, and remember. "For me"...all my mates that fell on the killing gounds. North of the City of Caen. I am too severely injured to return to honour their memory.
Thanks Sapper.

246 Field Company
Royal; Engineers
Eighth Brigade.
Third British infantry Divisioin
Monty's Ironsides.
Queen Red Queen White sectors

 

You may see a reference to our company officer. Lt Arthur Hea,l CdeG, RE. around the Hillman area.
Sapper

 

"Hillman" was one of the things that stuck in my memory more than any other thing during one of my visits to Normandy in the 1980's before it was excavated and opened to the public. Is the bunker still accessable? If so, are the German ranging diagrams still visible in the observation ports?

If not, I'll post some photos showing the German paintings (I always feared they would be lost on full excavation).

Another thing to see that I never miss whenever I return is the Point du Hoc - a "preserved" battlefield on a par with the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel (though not as poignant).

One other area that moved me was Mont Ormel (Maczuga) overlooking the "Korridor des Tod".

Dave.

 

Thanks for all your replies. Great help.

Sapper - I'll remember them mate, that I promise.
It's the main reason for my visit. I feel I owe such great gratitude to the men and women of your generation who gave so much so that we could enjoy the freedom that we currently do.

It's going to be a memorable trip.

 

Hi
We just come back from Normandy and I think we did quite a lot in one day. We did Omaha beach (with the American Military cemetery), Port en Bessin, Longues battery, Arromanches with the Mulberry harbour(and the musuem), ver-ser-Mer, Courselles, Luc-sur-mer, walked along sword beach, Pegasus bridge(the cafe and musuem)and then onto the Merville battery...phew.
It was very exhausting, but very worthwhile, but I think the Merville Battery let it down in its overgrown and flooded bunkers.
The mulberry harbour is best seen when the tide goes out.
I have enclosed a few photos.....
Cheers
Marc.
1. Pegasus Bridge (not the original, that is in the musuem behind)
2.Brig Gen Theodore Roosevelt Jr last resting place.
3.Memorial/sculpture at Omaha beach
4.Some of the remains of Mulberry harbour (can only see it after tide out)
5.American Military cemetery at Omaha
6.Longues battery

 

Oh and the view of the Mulberry harbour along Gold beach.....

 

Glad you had a good trip mate - nice to see you in Ypres.

 

Nice photos ypresman, glad you had a nice trip, I plan on going back at some point to see it all again. I'll try and dig up some of my photos but I don't think I have them here at uni.

 

Cheers Paul, good to see your goodself in Ypres....and thanks Mr. Gnomey....
I think a few more of photo's from people's trips wouldn't go a miss........
It would be interesting to see what other people have seen.

 

Hi
Just to bring this back up...
Here is a few more pics.... enjoy!
Cheers
Marc.

 

Hello Chaps,good to see these pics. Had an excellent trip in October BUT we didn't get a digital camera until December,DOH! Sorry can't share my photos, we're old fashioned they're in an album.
We stayed in the just north of Falaise so we were able to see where the Canadian Corps fought. Also went to Hill 112,Maltot & Mont Pincon to remember the Wessex lads.
Saw Pegaus Bridge too,picnic at Sword, Juno Beach Centre, Cemetary at Omaha.Not bad for a first visit.
Bayeux tapestry is a must.

 

Glad you enjoyed it. I've only just noticed the date of your post though. I was going to give you a rundown of our trip there for the 60th anniversary.
I've got a few pictures up on my website if you'd like a look:

http://www.bujold.co.uk

 

A general question to those on the forum:
Has anyone thought of setting out an itinerary or best route, taking in most of the battle sites for say the car traveller or tourer. I know there are tours the likes of what Paul is involved in which take in a few of the main sites. It's odd how no one has put one out in print. There would I believe be a lot of interest especially from the military buffs/ enthusiasts/ historians.

 

Glad you enjoyed it. I've only just noticed the date of your post though. I was going to give you a rundown of our trip there for the 60th anniversary.
I've got a few pictures up on my website if you'd like a look:

http://www.bujold.co.uk
Only just got around to viewing your website.
Those Shermans in Holland, I'm sure my Mum has pictures of those from her Dutch pen-friend from back in the early 1950s. Will check soon.
Anyone else who hasn't seen Mostonian's pics have a look. They'll make you want to get overthere ASAP.

 

From Mostonian's site.http://www.bujold.co.uk/html/overloon_museum_0.html

 

This is my Mum's photo from her Dutch pen-friend 1951.
Original photo is reversed so I've flipped it for here.
As this photo was taken 6 years after the war do you thnk the markings would be more acurate than on the modern photos of it?