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Paris, France - This Paris day trip visits sites and memorials related to the D-Day landings which took place in Normandy in June of 1944. The actual sites and memorials visited can be catered to your specific interests. Below is a description of some of the most popular options.
During the drive (approximately 3 hours) to Normandy, your guide will talk with you about the region and sites which are related to the D-Day landings.
Your first stop is Arromanches. The town of Arromanches was chosen by Winston Churchill as the location of a harbor to be built for the invasion. To build it, 300 foot long cement blocks were floated across the English Channel and sunk in place. Named Port Winston, this harbor and breakwater was over 7 miles long, and allowed the arrival of over 50,000 vehicles and 500,000 troops in just 6 days’ time. Today you can see the remains of the harbor from the beach, or get a better view from the bluffs above. This is also the location of the Landing Museum, which uses models and films to explain the landing operations.
Next you drive to Port en Bessin where you have free time to enjoy lunch in a restaurant (meal not included). You are in Normandy so we suggest trying the locally caught mussels or anything made with local cheese or apples.
After lunch you drive to Colleville sur Mer and stop at the American Cemetery which is located just above Omaha Beach. This large park like cemetery was donated to the Americans by the French, and contains over 9000 white marble crosses and Star of David grave markers with the name and home state of each soldier who died on the beaches below while fighting the Germans. A centerpiece of the cemetery is a memorial to those who lost their lives, and to the 1577 missing or unidentified soldiers. Look for this quote from a posted sign near the entrance:
"Visitor, Look how many of them there were. Look how young they were. They died for your freedom. Hold back your tears and keep silent."
Your final stop is at Pointe du Hoc which sits about 200 feet above the sea on high cliffs. The Germans posted long range guns on this naturally protected site to knock out approaching ships. The Allies knew they must overtake and secure the area so that the other landings could be successful. Well before dawn on June 6th 1944 about 200 U.S. rangers scaled the cliffs as German forces fired down upon them. After great losses suffered reaching the top and securing the area, it was discovered that the large guns once here had been moved to the north near Calais.
Today it is a great place to end a tour of D-Day sights since it has been left in its condition from that day. You can walk amid bomb craters pocking the white cliffs, go through semi-ruined German bunkers and twisted barbwire fences. Most of us cannot fully imagine the events of that day, but this sight can give you a glimpse into the massive destruction of the war.
After a very moving day, you drive back to your hotel in Paris later this evening.
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