D-day Beaches
D-Day Beaches are in Normandy, France. The D-Day beaches are the historic site of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of western Europe during World War II. Normandy is easily reachable from Paris, either by car (2 to 3 hours drive) or by train (2 hours from Paris St Lazare station to Caen central station). Alternatively, a ferry across the channel will take you in 5 hours from Portsmouth to Ouistreham, the easternmost D-day target, an ideal starting point. Car rental in Normandy can be arranged through several international chains including Avis, Budget, Eurocar and Hertz. Cars can be picked up in Caen and . Driving in France is on the right hand side of the road and all distance and speed measurements are in km.
Now more than 60 years after D-Day, the Normandy coast is peaceful with lovely seaside towns and picturesque beaches. Behind the coast is an old-fashioned farming landscape of grain fields, cattle and pastures, hedges and farmhouses. But the memories of war and D-Day are engrained in the landscape. Along the 50-mile D-Day invasion coast there are the remains of German gun emplacements and bunkers, while war memorials and monuments mark where the allied forces landed on the beaches. Inland, there are monuments in almost every village and at every bend in the road, for there is barely a square yard that wasn’t fought over. Beautiful cemeteries overlook the sea and countryside and are essential stops along the way to understand and reflect on the human cost of the war. Along the coast and inland there are numerous D-Day related museums. Only by visiting do you get a proper idea of the vastness of the enterprise.
When you visit, “Take time to stroll on the beaches and through the villages and to drive country lanes that are once again regulated by rural rhythms, just as if they’d never been devastated at all. It’s pretty and poignant, and here’s a strange thing, it brings out the best in people. There’s respect in the air and a common bond between visitors. Folk behave well, smile and chat more easily than usual.” Anthony Peregrine, The Sunday Times.
An excellent time to visit is on the June 6th anniversary when there are numerous memorial ceremonies to mark the occasion. A large number of reenactment groups attend, adding pageantry and atmosphere. The church bells ring in the towns to celebrate the anniversary of their liberation. The French people will be happy to see you - these people remember, and the welcome will be warm.
The following description of the beaches is organized in an “east to west” order, so that it can be used to organize a driving tour along the coast. The length of a tour depends on how many sites and museums a person decides to visits. Enthusiasts could spend several weeks, however a 2 or 3 day visit will suffice to cover a couple of museums and most of the major sites. A good starting point is to get an orientation on the area and history of D-Day at either the Memorial de Caen, Caen or Musée du Débarquement (The Landing Museum) in Arromanches, and from there set out to explore.
