Travel ideas – Short stay (one day)
Visit Normandy
This proposed travel has been established by the D-Day Overlord website to allow you to visit the historical area of the Battle of Normandy, according to your possibilities.
On this page, discover the idea of a “flash trip” route to be completed in one day.
Place of departure: Caen (14)
Direction: Bénouville (14)
Itinerary (travel time: 15 minutes): leave Caen direction Hérouville-Saint-Clair, then take the avenue Georges Clemenceau (D 515) towards Ouistreham. Exit at Hérouville-Saint-Clair and continue on the D 515. Enter Bénouville, head towards Cabourg, cross the bridge Pegasus Bridge and park at the Pegasus Bridge museum (100 meters on the left after the bridge)
Parking: Pegasus Bridge Museum Parking
Visit :
– Pegasus Bridge Airborne Troop Museum
– Walking tour of the historic site near the bridge
Location: Bénouville (14)
Direction: Ouistreham – Riva-Bella (14) – Sword Beach
Itinerary (travel time: 10 minutes): Exit Bénouville towards the west and take the direction of Ouistreham. Enter the town, head for the Car Ferry, and follow the Riva-Bella along the coastal road towards Colleville-Montgomery.
Parking: squares along the coastal road, stop if possible near the casino
Visit :
– Walking tour of the historic site: Sword Beach, monuments, beach defenses
Departure: Ouistreham – Riva-Bella (14) – Sword Beach
Direction: Arromanches-les-Bains (14) – Gold Beach – On the heights of the city
Itinerary (travel time: 45 minutes): Exit Ouistreham on the Route de Lion (D514) towards Lion-sur-Mer. Continue on the D514 towards Courseulles-sur-Mer: cross Luc-sur-Mer, Langrune-sur-Mer, Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Bernières-sur-Mer and finally Courseulles-sur-Mer. Continue on the D514 (Route d’Arromanches) towards Vers-sur-Mer, Asnelles and finally Saint-Côme-de-Fresné. After Le Hamel, continue on the height overlooking the sea and stop right at the car park of Cinéma Arromanches 360 °.
Parking: parking (extra charge) from the viewpoint on the heights of Arromanches
Visit :
– On the way, do not hesitate to stop for a few moments near particular points
– Observe the magnificent view of the artificial port of Arromanches
– Cinéma Arromanches 360 °
Departure: Arromanches-les-Bains (14) – Gold Beach – On the heights of the city
Direction: Arromanches-les-bains (14) – Gold Beach – Downtown and beach
Itinerary (travel time: 3 minutes): leave the parking of the point of view and take the direction of the town center of Arromanches.
Parking: Town squares near the beach and the city center
Visit :
– Landing Museum, Place du 6 juin
– Walking tour of the historic site: the remains of the artificial port of Arromanches on the beach
Departure: Arromanches-les-Bains (14) – Gold Beach – Downtown and beach
Direction: Longues-sur-Mer (14) – German coastal battery
Itinerary (travel time: 10 minutes): leave Arromanches and take the D 514 in the direction of Longues-sur-Mer. In the city, follow the indications that lead to the German coastal battery.
Parking: on-site parking of the German coastal battery of Longues-sur-Mer
Visit :
– Walking tour of the historic site: the blockhouses and the observation post
Departure: Longues-sur-Mer (14) – German coastal battery
Direction: Colleville-sur-Mer (14) – Omaha Beach – American military cemetery
Itinerary (travel time: 17 minutes): exit Longues-sur-Mer direction Colleville-sur-Mer (D514), and follow the signs. At the first roundabout after the village of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes, take the first right towards the military cemetery.
Parking: American Military Cemetery Parking
Visit :
– Walking Tour of the American Military Cemetery
Departure: Colleville-sur-Mer (14) – Omaha Beach – American military cemetery
Direction: Colleville-sur-Mer (14) – Omaha Beach – Remains of the fortified point Wn 62
Itinerary (travel time: 2 minutes): Exit the American Military Cemetery and take the first left (follow the signs), the parking lot is a hundred meters from the cemetery.
Parking: parking lot fortified Wn 62
Visit :
– Walking tour of the fortified point Wn 62
Location: Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (14) – Omaha Beach – Beach
Direction: Vierville-sur-Mer (14) – Omaha Beach – Beach
Itinerary to follow (travel time: 3 minutes): on the road parallel to the beach, head west towards Vierville-sur-Mer. Stop after the National Guard bunker.
Parking: places near the National Guard bunker
Visit :
– Walking tour of the historic site: National Guard bunker and commemorative plaques
Place of departure: Vierville-sur-Mer (14) – Omaha Beach – Beach
Direction: Pointe du Hoc – German coastal battery
Itinerary (travel time: 8 minutes): leave Vierville-sur-Mer and take the D 514 towards the west in the direction of Grandcamp-Maisy. Follow signs to turn right towards Pointe du Hoc.
Parking: on-site parking of the German coastal battery of Pointe du Hoc
Visit :
– Walking tour of the historic site
Starting point: Pointe du Hoc – German coastal battery
Directions: Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
Itinerary (travel time: 30 minutes): leave the Pointe du Hoc, take direction Grandcamp-Maisy and continue towards Isigny-sur-Mer. At the West exit of the city, take the D 113 towards Isigny-sur-Mer. At the roundabout, turn right towards Isigny-sur-Mer. At the roundabout before entering Isigny-sur-Mer, take the motorway N 13 / E 46 in the direction of Cherbourg. Follow signs for the motorway to the D 67 towards Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Enter the heart of the city and join the square of the church.
Parking: parking spaces on the church square
Visit :
– Walking tour of the historic site: the town and church of Sainte-Mère-Eglise
– Museum of Airborne Troops (near the church).
Bonus: if you have the time…
Place of departure: Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
Direction: Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50) – Utah Beach
Itinerary (15 minutes drive time): exit Sainte-Mère-Eglise and follow signs for Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (follow the roads D 523, D 423 and D 70). In Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, follow signs for Utah Beach and the D-Day Landing Museum
Parking: Parking at the Landing Museum
Visit :
– Landing Museum
– Walking tour of the historic site: the beach and the W5 fortified point
End of the day
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