La pointe du hoc This intact battlefield, left after the attack of the rangers, will transport you to the heart of the combat delivered by the first wave of the 2nd battalion of US rangers under the orders of Colonel RUDDER. These German fortifications threatened the Utah & Omaha Beaches.
The aerial and coastal bombings have reduced this terrain to a lunar landscape.
Omaha Beach The sand of Omaha beach will keep your borrowed footsteps in a historical dimension close to the American soldiers who sacrificed their lives at the heart of the attack of the 5th body made up of the 29th division of infantry “blue & grey” as well as the first infantry division, more often known under the name of “big red one”.
This framed beach cliff, was among the 5 most unfavorable beaches for a landing/disembarkment. The first companies are decimated and the human losses are extreme. This beach will bear the name of OMAHA THE BLOODY.
The U.S. Cemetery
The American cemetery will bring you closer to its young men and women who left their native land to die in France, in Normandy one morning in June 1944. 9,387 tombs and 1,557 names of missing soldiers are engraved forever in a monument that will remind you of the ultimate debt of future generations.
The German batteries of Longues sur Mer
The long battery on the sea with its defenses which carry the marks of the ferocious combat given by the British troops of the “Devonshire” regiment, to neutralize the artillery guns of 155 mm.
These remains will evoke the times of the occupation for you, like those of the Atlantic Wall construction ordered by Rommel. The German soldiers surrendered the morning of June 7th.
The Artificial Harbor of Arromanches
Located by this small ordinary village, Port Winston, with its caissons ‘Phoenix’ and pontoons, allow you to imagine the incredible device put in place a few days after the landing/disembarkment in order to supply the troops during the months following D Day.
While waiting for the liberation of the Havre and Cherbourg Ports, enormous concrete caissons were constructed in England. After being towed, the wharfs were assembled in order to form piers that defined the artificial harbor, connecting the ground by floating roadways. During 100 days of operation, the port unloaded: 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles and 4 million tons of material.
Ste Mère Eglise (Saint Mother Church) Ste Mere Eglise, first liberated city, pays homage to its liberators. From the night of June 5 to June 6, a house on fire illuminates the village when the paratroopers were dropped. One of them, John Steele, a soldier from the 82nd airborne division finds himself caught on the bell-tower of the church and sees his friends being slaughtered by the Germans that were present at this place.
Monuments and plaques remind you of how these paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st airborne were courageous.
La fière (The Proud) Monuments and tomb markers remind us of the sacrifices American Paratroopers made: 4km to the west of Ste. Mere Eglise a group of the 505th regiment of the 82nd airborne undergo terrible losses but save their positions definitively. The bridge of the proud where violent combats took division ordered by the Dolan captain place on June 6.
Hiesville - The death of an American General
A tomb marker dedicated to the 1st brigade general F. PRATT killed during the crushing of his sailplane on June 6, 1944 Ste Marie du Mont
Around the church, a route marked by plaques on the walls of the dwellings recount the liberation of this market town on June 6, 1944.
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was one of the main beaches of disembarkation on June 6th, 1944. It was the least costly in human lives. The losses of the 4th division did not exceed 200 men on June 6th, 1944. The beach was in the hands of the allies rather fast, the meeting of the off-loaded troops and paratroopers was made
in the early afternoon. The evening of June 6th, 20,000 men and 1,700 vehicles found themselves on Utah Beach.
Utah Beach Museum
It is located just on the edge of the beach where the American troops off-loaded.
You will discover archived photos, models, veterans’ objects and an archived film here.
Batterie d’azeville
Built from 1941, located on the front East of Cotentin, the battery equipped with 4 powerful casemates equipped with 105mm French guns ,it covered the coast of the English Channel. From June 5th to 6th 1944, the battery of Azeville is attacked by parachutists of the allied troops fallen there by error, but very early the morning, it enters in
action against the American unloading of Utah Beach and considerably delays the allied forces. Bombarded and then attacked with the lance flame, the position falls on June 9, 1944. Today it is a museum which makes it possible to penetrate in 350 meters underground, but also to give a look into how daily life was for these 170 artillerists in these batteries.
Jeep/Buggy, Plane, ULA, Minibus will allow you to explore the Battle of Normandy trails. Schedules: 08h30 /18h00 Prices: Adults 89 Euros - Students 83 Euros
Starting possibility of Bayeux, from your hotel or the train station!
