Trip to Normandy- seeking help (1 Viewer)

[Fullyautomatic]

Planning a partial trip to Normandy in Oct or late Nov after Remembrance Day. I will have two to three days at the most there in Normandy. Is it realistic to see all five beaches in that time period? What other places or things to see can I or should I fit in? I believe the rest of the trip will be back in Paris. Traveling with others so my walk in the past for history purposes, especially WWII, is limited with this group of friends. I know get new friends...lol. Not an option.

 

[Catt600]

I don’t think that’s enough to visit all the beaches. I would either focus on the American or British/Canadian beaches.

 

[jazzeum]

I agree that you don’t have to see all the beaches. You should obviously see Omaha and I suggest seeing Pegasus Bridge. That’s a must in my opinion. I’d also see Bayeux. Wonderful town and seeing the Bayeux tapestry was a highlight. I also highly recommend a trip to Mont Saint Michel. It’s about 90 minutes from Bayeux.

Have you figured out where you’re staying? We stayed at a B & B in Villers Bocage. It was great.

Give yourself enough time to see Paris. It’s my favorite place. I can never get enough of it.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

 

[Horus]

Have you thought about doing one of the specialised organised tours such as offered by:

https://www.leger.co.uk/battlefields


Who I see do lots of different trips from Waterloo to Battle of the Bulge and lots of others as well as D-Day where you'd be in the company of like interested people.

Presumably there are companies in Canada / US who offer similar trips ?

 

[hsm]

If you are Canadian as indidcated by your flag, I would visit Vimy Ridge, and then the Canadian beaches- maybe even dieppe. You will not regret visiting Vimy. makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck when I think about it.
happy travels
GL

 

[BHogan]

If you are Canadian as indidcated by your flag, I would visit Vimy Ridge, and then the Canadian beaches- maybe even dieppe. You will not regret visiting Vimy. makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck when I think about it.
happy travels
GL

I second this. If you have the time, all of these spots are definitely worth the visit. The Dieppe cemetery is particularly poignant. Since the casualties were all buried by the Germans and concentrated in one cemetery, it really gives you a sense of the scale of the losses.

Brendan

 

[Fullyautomatic]

Thank you for the recommendations so far. Yes I am Canadian but traveling with my American friends. They have already been to Omaha and Utah (of course they got me my sand) so the plan in place will probably be centered around the three remaining beaches and I guess I'll have to make another trip back (darn lol) They have voiced staying in Caan but nothing has been booked yet. Thanks for the Vimy trip advise but looks to be a far distance. Dieppe might be in the books though. Brad I believe the majority of the trip will be in Paris.
Thank you all for chiming in.

 

[jazzeum]

Thank you for the recommendations so far. Yes I am Canadian but traveling with my American friends. They have already been to Omaha and Utah (of course they got me my sand) so the plan in place will probably be centered around the three remaining beaches and I guess I'll have to make another trip back (darn lol) They have voiced staying in Caan but nothing has been booked yet. Thanks for the Vimy trip advise but looks to be a far distance. Dieppe might be in the books though. Brad I believe the majority of the trip will be in Paris.
Thank you all for chiming in.

Is this your first time in Paris?

 

[Poppo]

I agree that you don’t have to see all the beaches. You should obviously see Omaha and I suggest seeing Pegasus Bridge. That’s a must in my opinion. I’d also see Bayeux. Wonderful town and seeing the Bayeux tapestry was a highlight. I also highly recommend a trip to Mont Saint Michel. It’s about 90 minutes from Bayeux.

Have you figured out where you’re staying? We stayed at a B & B in Villers Bocage. It was great.

Give yourself enough time to see Paris. It’s my favorite place. I can never get enough of it.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

In Bayeux is also the museum of the battle of Normandy.

 

[Fullyautomatic]

Is this your first time in Paris?

Yes it will be!

 

[jazzeum]

Yes it will be!

I’m sure it will be awesome. There’s no city like it. If you are an art lover, in addition to the Louvre, I recommend going to the Musee d’Orsay.

Paris is very easy to get around because the Metro system is so good.

One of my favorite thing about Paris are the crepes. There are so many street stands that sell them you will never be at a loss to find them.

Which bank are you staying on? We like the left bank but you can’t go wrong.

 

[Mirof]

Why not another beach not far
Mont Saint Michel ( the story begin in 708 )


Caen (a city 1000 years old )
or Falaise ( Guillaume le Conquérant )


Enjoy your Trip . You travel through 6000+ years of History, just look around you, not your e-phone

 

[TheLifeStyle]

There is a lot to see and do in this region and a whole crap ton of history even including the Battle of Hastings(Caen), 100 years war and WW2. Would recommend the following:

1. There is a paratrooper museum in St Mere Eglise that has a Waco glider in it. An excellent museum by the way.
2. Utah and Omaha are both great places to check out. Utah is much less crowded. Get to Omaha early as it has entire tour busses of people unload there. The American cemetery there at Omaha is a must. Make sure to visit the Wall of the Missing. Be advised that the statue adjacent to the Wall of the Missing represents the American youth rising from the tide.
3. Driving around the almost single lane rounds and seeing the bocage first hand all in itself is an excellent experience.
4. My personal favorite spot in the Normandy region is Pointe Du Hoc. You can still see the 500 pound bomb crater impacts there.
5. I stayed at place called Le Manoir De Juganville(its on google maps). Be advised you can only pay with cash there(well at least when I was there you only could). An excellent place to stay and basically part of the Battle of XYZ. The gardens there are immaculate.
6. Mont Saint-Michel is an excellent side trip but be sure to park and then take the provided bus to the castle. Don't do the walk, at least not in the summer. It was scorching out when I was there and a pile of people got heat exhausted. That walk is a lot longer than it looks from the parking lot.
7. Very much recommend the Tapestry at Bayeux(Battle of Hastings). An excellent side adventure and well worth seeing.
8. If thats not enough you can do the Caen Castle - William the Conqueror

The food is amazing in the region. I found the people there very friendly to Americans(obviously). The local wine is incredible and the cider made from Norman apples is a good treat too.

That is all, safe travels

 

[Mirof]

Le Manoir de Jugenville, XVI cent. is not an Hotel but a fabulous Guest House
Lot of pictures Here Le Manoir De Juganville, Saint-Martin-de-Varreville – Tarifs 2023 (booking.com)