Steps
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- Day 1
- Caen
- Pegasus Bridge
- Lunch
- Arromanches
- Longues sur Mer
- American Cemetery in Colleville
- American Interpretive Center
- Day 2
- Sainte Mère Eglise
- Utah Beach
- Lunch
- Pointe du Hoc
- Omaha Beach
- Day 3
- Mont Saint Michel
- Lunch
- Villedieu les Poêles
- Book this tour
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D-DAY Landing beaches + Mont St Michel (3 Days) Description
DAY 1
Book your tour of D-Day in Normandy, and walk in the footsteps of the allied soldiers who gave their lives to liberate from the Nazi tyranny and changed forever the course of history.
After leaving Paris at 7 am, your guide will stop half-way for coffee and croissants before giving you a historical introduction to DDAY and the battle of Normandy. An hour later you will arrive at the Peace Memorial in Caen, where you will watch a few exceptional documentaries about D-Day and the battle of Normandy. Your guide will take you for a visit to the very informative museum that houses an imaginative display which elaborates on themes such as the inter-war years and the advance of fascism in Europe.
After Caen, you will drive to Benouville for a visit of the famous Pegasus Bridge, that was captured soon after midnight on June 6th by the British paratroopers in an audacious "coup de main" (visit of the field where the Horse and Hamilcar gliders landed, visit of the Memorial and stop at the "Café Gondré": the first house in Normandy to be liberated by the Allies).
After your visit of Pegasus Bridge, it is time for lunch in a typical Norman restaurant (not included)
Then onto the visit of Arromanches to discover the remains of the artificial harbor (Mulberry), that played a vital part in the success of the landings.
From Arromanches, your guide will drive you to the German coastal artillery battery of Longues Sur Mer that was part of Germany’s Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications.
You will finish your first day with an exhaustive visit of the American Cemetery in Colleville. This tribute to the heroes of the war covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 military, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations (visit of the Memorial, the wall of the Missing, the Chapel, many noteworthy tombs – Medals of Honor, etc). This will be followed by a stop at the American Interpretive Center. You will have the opportunity to view remarkable films and documentaries relating the DDAY and Battle of Normandy operations.
Finally, your guide will take you to your hotel in Bayeux, for the night.
DAY 2
After breakfast, you will start your day with a visit of Sainte Mère Eglise where the troops of the 82nd Airborne made history (Visit of the church, the Airborne museum and the Glider museum).
After Sainte Mère Eglise, you will proceed to Utah Beach where the US 4th Infantry Division secured the beachhead on the Cotentin Peninsula (Visit of the beach and the Utah Beach Memorial).
It will then be time for lunch in a typical Norman restaurant.
You will continue your journey to Pointe du Hoc, visually the most impressive spot on the coast where Colonel James Rudder and the US 2nd Ranger Battalion were given the task of destroying a battery of five 155mm guns. Their heroic struggle and final success, cementing their place in history.
To finish your day, you will continue with the drive and visit of Omaha Beach, that has become the symbol of the sacrifice of American soldiers in WWII, since June 6th 1944.
After this moving interlude on Omaha Beach and if time permits, you will have a short stop at the German cemetery at La Cambe.
Finally, you will return to Bayeux for an overnight stay
DAY 3
Many writers have tried to define the "Marvel of the Occident", some say that it is to the sea what the pyramid of Keops is to the desert, some describe it as an imaginary manor-house, stupefying as a dream palace, others say that is is not dry land and yet not the sea. Surrounded by the sea with one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, the Mont Saint Michel is simply unique. The Abbey, founded by Aubert at the beginning of the 8th Century became a major cultural and pilgrimage centre during the middle ages.
Starting with a visit of the old medieval village, with a stop at the local church to light a candle and make a wish at the silver statue of Saint Michel (a tradition).
You will ascend the three levels of the marvel, culminating with a breathtaking view; the likes of which make you understand the original monks that came here for solace and spiritual contemplation.
The guided visit of the Abbey will take you through the Church (a unique blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture), the Herbal Garden with its covered cloisters, the Refectory, to the middle level comprised of the Knights Room, the Scriptorium to end up in the Undercroft and Almonry.Following this, a walk along the impressive ramparts will give you a concrete idea of Medieval fortress defences, and a clear example of why this was the only fortress that the English never managed to conquer during the 100 year war.
You will have lunch in one of the typical restaurants on the Mont before heading back to Paris.
If time, one your way back to Paris, you will make a stop at Villedieu-les-poêles, a town renowned for its craftsmanship of Lace, Tin, Leather and most notoriously, Copper.
(Entrance tickets to the Mont St. Michel Abbey included).
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Extra charge for a pick up and/or a drop off outside Paris
Prices
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Book this tour
- 1 to 2 persons 3,100€
- 3 to 4 persons 3,325€
- 5 to 6 persons 3,495€
- 7 to 8 persons 3,675€
(Hotels not included)