D-Day beaches
Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword
One hour from the gîte, the D-Day beaches are an essential stop for anyone wishing to understand the Second World War. On 6 June 1944, 156,000 Allied soldiers landed on five beaches along the Calvados coast: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Today, museums, memorials and military cemeteries line this history-charged coastline.
The Mémorial de Caen provides a comprehensive and moving account of the Battle of Normandy — an excellent starting point before exploring the beaches themselves. At Colleville-sur-Mer, the American cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach: 9,387 white crosses facing the sea, a sight at once overwhelming and deeply moving. The Pointe du Hoc, with its bomb craters still intact, speaks to the ferocity of the fighting.
The key sites can be covered in a single day by car, starting in Caen in the morning and working westward along the coast. Allow a full day to do justice to the museums and the sweep of the beaches.
Book Mémorial de Caen guided tours in advance during July–August. The main sites attract large crowds throughout the summer season.