Place de Québec

Place de Québec is situated just around the corner from The Bayeux Tourist Information Office. We pick up here Mon – Sun at 09:35 for a 09:45 departure (during Winter). There are toilet facilities in Place de Québec, as well as a cafe nearby for passengers who wish a quick coffee prior to departure. 

1. Longues-sur-Mer German Battery

The anti-naval guns of The German Battery at Longues-sur-Mer were a key element of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall. Built on a clifftop overlooking the English Channel and situated right in the heart of the Allied assault sector between Omaha and Gold Beaches, they included a range-finding post and four casemates, each housing a 150-mm gun. Despite numerous Allied air raids in the night of 5th June 1944, the battery was still operational on the morning of 6th June. On our visit to this UNESCO World Heritage site, you will be able to go inside the casemates themselves, and we will discover why it took the Allies until June 7th to force its surrender…

2. Arromanches – Mulberry Harbour ‘B’

It was on the beach of Arromanches that, during the Invasion of Normandy immediately after D-Day, the Allies established an artificial temporary harbour to allow the unloading of heavy equipment without waiting for the conquest of deep water ports such as Le Havre or Cherbourg. Although at the centre of the Gold Beach landing zone, Arromanches was spared the brunt of the fighting on D-Day so the installation and operation of the port was able to proceed as quickly as possible without damaging the beach and destroying surrounding lines of communication. We will stop for lunch up on the bluff overlooking Arromanches – with the most stunning view of the entire day’s tour laid out before us…

3. Gold Beach – Asnelles

Asnelles was heavily bombed by the Allied air forces and the navy at dawn on D-Day. The 1st Hampshire and the Dorsetshire Regiments, supported by the Sherwood Rangers tanks of the 8th Armored Brigade experienced heavy fighting here at the two German Strongpoints WN 36 & WN 37. At this stop we will visit Gold Beach, and if the tide is out we will be able to visit the remains of ‘Port Winston’ – Mulberry Harbour B. Whilst visiting the beach here we will take a brief look at the German strongpoints which inflicted heavy casualties as the Allied soldiers landed here at 07:25 on D-Day…

4. Ryes Commonwealth Cemetery (optional)

This small, virtually forgotten cemetery – off the beaten track and surrounded by fields – is situated between Bayeux and Arromanches and is rarely visited by major tour companies or tourists. Beautifully maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission it contains 653 Commonwealth war graves, including one Polish and 335 German. The first interments in the cemetery were made two days after the initial D-Day landings. Some of the soldiers buried here are from the 50th British Northumbrian Infantry Division that landed on Gold Beach. The cemetery also contains a large number of Royal Navy and merchant navy sailors. Two brothers, Private Joseph Casson (Durham Light Infantry) and Marine Robert Casson (45 Commando) are buried beside each other in the graveyard. We will begin our Allied Triangle D-Day Group Tour in this humble place…

Lunch in Bayeux

Since we are so close to Bayeux (10 mins), we will make a quick lunchstop here. There are many bistros and cafés open even during the winter months.

 

Tip: 45 minutes will allow for a sandwich or panini and a coffee but in France is insufficient time for a ‘sit-down’ 3 course lunch.

NB: Check in for redeparture at 13:45 will be at 13:40.

Next stop (American Sector Tour): Pointe-du-Hoc…

5. Pointe-du-Hoc

Pointe-du-Hoc, a 100ft promontory cliff overlooking the English Channel on the coast of Normandy in northern France was heavily fortified with concrete casemates and gun pits and protected by the German 352nd Infantry Division. On D-Day the United States Army Ranger Assault Group under lieutenant colonel James E. Rudder assaulted and captured Pointe du Hoc after scaling the cliffs. Disabling the six 155mm guns there was crucial to the successful completion of the Allied Land Invasion. There was however a cruel surprise in store for Colonel Rudder’s men…

6. Normandy Colleville American Cemetery

On June 8, 1944, the U.S. First Army established the temporary cemetery, the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. After the war, the present-day cemetery was established a short distance to the east of the original site. Come and honour the graves of our fallen Heroes, discover the gold-embossed gravestones of the three Medal of Honour recipients – listen to some stories from their lives – and peruse the wall of the missing upon which are engraved the names of 1557 servicemen never recovered…

7. Saint Laurent-sur-Mer – Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach, was the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944. Taking Omaha was to be the responsibility of United States Army troops of the First Division nicknamed ‘The Big Red One’. However faced with the 12,020 experienced combat troops of the German 352nd Infantry Division, the battle-hardened 1st Infantry Division had its work cut out. During this memorable visit you’ll find out why nothing here went according to plan on D-Day. Thus we shall discover how ‘Bloody Omaha’ earned its name…

8. Vierville-sur-Mer {Saving Private Ryan}

On D-Day at 06:30, the U.S. Army’s 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division, along with units of the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions,  landed on Omaha Beach, below Vierville-sur-Mer. The 29th Division & The Rangers suffered extremely heavy losses in the very first few minutes. On this stop you’ll find out how the courageous soldiers persevered on ‘Bloody Omaha’, and how in the face of all odds and at the prospect of certain death, they finally cut through the formidable German defenses.

Place de Québec 17:45

We will depart our last stop on schedule at 17:20. During our relaxing drive back to the station you will have 25 minutes to reflect on the day’s touring and have a casual chat with your Guide. We always appreciate feedback about your D-Day experience and welcome any last-minute questions. Please do not hesitate to let your driver know if we can be of any further assistance. Thank you for choosing NormandyONtour.