Place de Québec

Place de Québec is situated just around the corner from The Bayeux Tourist Information Office. We pick up here weekdays 08:50. There are toilet facilities in Place de Québec, as well as at the nearby cafe ‘Le Garde Manger’, should passengers wish a quick coffee and a chat prior to departure.

Please be sure to board the correct company’s vehicle – it is a busy place!

(Tip: Parking is available here and also nearby at Place aux Pommes).

1. 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…

2. 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…

3. 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.

4. 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…

5. Sainte-Mère-Eglise

This quintessential French Town played a significant part in the World War II Normandy landings. It stood right in the middle of route N13, which the Germans would have most likely used on any significant counterattack on the troops landing on Utah and Omaha Beaches. In the early morning of 6 June 1944, mixed units of 101st and 82nd US Airborne Divisions occupied the town in ‘Mission Boston’, giving it the claim to be one of the first towns liberated in the invasion. Come and find out about the events surrounding the largely botched landings and the paratrooper whose effigy still hangs off the church roof today.

*Sainte-Mère-Eglise : Airborne Museum (lunchbreak option)

The Airborne Museum is dedicated to the memory of the paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions of the United States Army who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5–6, 1944. Opened in 1964 with the help of donations from both residents and veterans, the museum houses an authentic Waco CG-4 glider (the only example in France) and a Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft, which was actually involved in D-Day air-drop operations. On our visit find out about the ill-fated drop; about the Robert Murphy ‘incident’ famously depicted in the movie ‘The longest Day’ and about paratrooper sergeant John P. Ray of the 505th P.I.R, who with his last breath saved the life of paratrooper John Steele, whose own parachute had snagged on the belfry of the church (and which – to help preserve the memory of the 101st & 82nd US paratrooper’s heroic parachute jump – remains there to this day.

**Bonus Sites en-route between Ste. Mère-Eglise and the end of the tour (time-permitting) and from inside the vehicle / brief stops.

Bonus sites (time-permitting & from inside the vehicle): Meehan crash site and 101st US Division's 'Currahee' Memorial; Hedgerow Battle countryside; Free French 2nd Armoured Division "Leclerc Monument" ; German Strongpoint WN8; Dick Winters Leadership Monument; Brécourt Manor's 506th "Easy" Company Memorial and 101st Airborne 501st P.I.R. Drop Zone D - Angoville-au-plain.

6. Utah Beach

Utah Beach is one of the two American landing zones in Normandy. Along with Sword Beach it was added to the Beaches of Omaha, Juno & Gold by British General Montgomery during the later stages in the planning of Operation Overlord. The amphibious assault, primarily by the US 4th Infantry Division and 70th Tank Battalion, was supported by airborne landings of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division. During this visit you’ll learn all about the successful Utah landing on D-Day, led by Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

7. Sainte-Marie-du-Mont: 101st Airborne

Paratroopers from largely dispersed 101st US Airborne were greeted in this village square on D-Day + 1 by a jubilant group of villagers. The village’s gothic bell tower was a key reference point for the 101st Airborne and its commander, General Maxwell Taylor, who had landed in the early hours of the Invasion and spent the night regrouping misdropped soldiers. At this stop you’ll find out about how German snipers hiding in French steeples posed an enormous threat to Allied soldiers everywhere in France.

8. NFRM: Normandy French Resistance Monument

"Operation Jedburgh" was a clandestine operation during World War II in which three-man teams of operatives of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the Free French Bureau central de renseignements et d'action ("Central Bureau of Intelligence and Operations") and the Dutch and Belgian armies in exile were dropped by parachute into occupied France, the Netherlands and Belgium. The objective of the Jedburgh teams was to assist allied forces who invaded France on 6 June 1944 with sabotage and guerrilla warfare, and leading local resistance forces in actions against the Germans. This monument tells the story of France's long, hard-won Résistance & final 'sacrifice' to that cause.

Drop-off: Place de Québec 17:30

We will depart our last stop on schedule at 16:50. During our relaxing drive back to Place de Québec, you will have 40 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.