Sybma Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Hi there, I'll be staying in Normandy for a week with my two suns this summer 2012. Looking for known battlefields. Somebody got any tips on tours /guides / musea etc.? Thanks in advance, Harold 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven482 Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I purchased the official "Battle of Normandy" Guide at Sainte-Mere Eglise some years ago. Highly recommended as it contains very nice Overviews of many Battlefield locations you can visit. Now you still can find it at Amazon. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Normandy-Paul-Wilson-F/dp/2742402438/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329669861&sr=8-1). Steven 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bimmer Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I don't think you need to go on an organized tour as long as you have a car; everything is extremely well-marked and easy to find, and the whole coastal area qualifies as a "known battlefield". There are a lot of museums, but most of them are fairly underwhelming if I'm honest - they get rather repetitive for the most part. I know some of them have undergone expansions in recent years, which may have improved things, but to me the battlefields are more interesting than the museums. Unfortunately, they are turning the former into the latter; Point du Hoc now has giant platforms on top of the bunkers, and they've added a sort of access platform to the observation bunker at Longues-sur-Mer. I prefer to stay in Bayeux. It's very centrally located and has enough restaurants that you won't have to worry about driving around trying to find a place to eat. Hotel Mogador is good and reasonable. The Hotel Churchill is good too, if more expensive. Book now if you're going in the summer - rooms fill up fast. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridethe415 Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I stayed in Bayeux, which is a great, small town at the Hotel Lion d'Or. There are some small military cemetaries right outside of the town. It was amazing to walk past both allied and german tombstones. There is a war museum in town as well http://www.ww2museums.com/article.asp?id=62 Took a train to Caen and visited the museum there as well. As far as tours, when we arrived at the train station in Bayeux, I saw a small tour van parked nearby, jotted down his name and number. He was a local guy, called him up and he took us to Point du Hoc, Omaha beach and the Normandy American Cemetery. He only took about 8 people and since he was local he was very informative. This was quite a while ago, but I am sure there are local guys who give great tours, much better than the big bus tours. Normandy is very beautiful, just not a lot of sun during the summer, just like here in San Francisco. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sburke Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 And don't neglect the Tapestry, Normandy has a lot more history than just the invasion. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo6tme Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 This place is a must http://www.maisybattery.com/Home.html Only discovered and dug up a few years ago,and puts a new spin on the carnage at omaha . I was out there 4 years ago when it was still being dug 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kohlenklau Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 How old are your sons? I visited all over Europe in 2001 with my young son and my father. My son was 10 years old. We came up from Naples, Italy where I was stationed with US forces. In Normandy, we stayed at an old Chateau, Chateau D'Asnieres. Asnieres en Bessin. Like a bed and breakfast we were the only guests. It had been a German Battalion HQ. Most kids like Museums with gift shops to buy cool souvenirs. He is older now and still has many mementos of his trip. Have a great trip! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybma Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks all! My sons are 16 and 17 years old. No real readers / wargamers but, new generation, fans of Band of Brothers, Brothers in Arms and Call of Duty. So they are just as curious as their dad. I'm also planning to order some battle of Normandy dvd's to provide them with some more background (books are no option regretably). Thanks! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kohlenklau Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Those are great ages to travel with. I also love Band of Brothers, Brothers in Arms and Call of Duty. Gearbox software for Brothers in arms did a lot of research. They have features in the game to show the actual village and the game version. Maybe your sons have time to plan to follow the exact route of "Baker" of the 506th. Road to Hill 30 and Earned in Blood. (You are from the Netherlands so you already live near the Hells Highway locations. Said with the greatest of envy. )Your sons played the game and now they can walk in the same terrain in real life. Since you are getting involved it will be a very bonding experience for you and your boys. Maybe even have some calvados apple brandy with them??! Sincere Best wishes and maybe tell us later how the trip went..... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bracco_n Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I am 20 and along with my dad we'll be touring Europe in July-August following the allied armies route. We begin in England and then cross by ferry from Portsmouth to Caen. There we intend to rent a car and drive down to Carentan, where we'll stay for three days. We chose Carentan because it's between the american beaches and even after the museums close I can still go out on a bike. One day will be spent in the Utah sector, the second in Omaha Sector, and the third in the Gold Juno and Sword sector. Earmarked places to visit so far: Utah sector Dead Man’s Corner http://www.paratrooper-museum.org/ St-Marie-du-Mont Boutique du Holdy http://leholdy.com/ Ocupation Museum Liberation Museum La Madeleine http://www.normandie44lamemoire.com/versionanglaise/fichesvillesus/lamadelaudous2.html Azeville St-Marcouf Battery St-Marie-du-Mont Airborne Museum http://www.airborne-museum.org/eng/home.php Bunkers to the north of la Madeleine Omaha sector: Grandcapm-Maisy Ranger’s museum http://www.grandcamp-maisy.fr/musee-des-rangers Pointe du Hoc Museo memorial Omaha Beach http://www.musee-memorial-omaha.com/ American Normandy Cementery Colleville sur Mer Big Red One museum I still have to research these sector more and the commonwealth sector. Hope it helps 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridethe415 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Just came across this today At the nearby D-Day beaches in Normandy, the terrific Utah Beach Landing Museum (near Sainte Marie du Mont, www.utah-beach.com is now open. Built in the sand dunes around the remains of a German bunker, with floors both above and below sea level, the museum's finale is a large, glassed-in room overlooking Utah Beach. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holien Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Just came across this today At the nearby D-Day beaches in Normandy, the terrific Utah Beach Landing Museum (near Sainte Marie du Mont, www.utah-beach.com is now open. Built in the sand dunes around the remains of a German bunker, with floors both above and below sea level, the museum's finale is a large, glassed-in room overlooking Utah Beach. This place is a must see and an excellent place. Also nearby is a fantastic battery which is a great place to wander and contemplate the action in the area. http://www.batterie-marcouf.com/eng/index.php?page=home It was eventually taken on the 12th of June. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Not a D Day site but definitely a Normandy must see, Mont Saint Michelle: http://www.damncoolpictures.com/2011/08/mont-saint-michel-castle-france.html Kids love it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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