D-Day Beaches
France
The beaches and bluffs are quiet today, on 6 June 1944 the Normandy shoreline was the destination for more than 6,000 ships and the largest armada ever assembled. This part of the French coast is strewn with memorials, museums, and cemeteries; starting with Caen's Museum for Peace, the route passes Pegasus Bridge, Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc cliff-top battery, and Utah Beach.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Caen
The Mémorial de Caen places the D-Day invasion in full WWII context, built over a German command bunker. Caen itself was 75% destroyed in the 1944 battle.
- Pegasus Bridge
At 00:16 on 6 June 1944, six British gliders landed here and seized this bridge intact before a single beach landing. The Café Gondrée was the first house liberated.
- Arromanches Mulberry
Concrete caissons of the prefabricated Mulberry harbour still sit offshore, 600,000 tonnes of port infrastructure shipped from England in pieces.
- Omaha Beach Cemetery
9,387 white marble crosses on a bluff above Omaha Beach. The visitor centre is exceptional; bunker remains and shell craters still scar the sand below.
- Pointe du Hoc
US Army Rangers scaled these 30 m cliffs under fire on D-Day. The 12-acre clifftop site remains pockmarked with craters; German casemates stand untouched.
- Utah Beach
The westernmost and most successful D-Day landing. The museum occupies a German bunker; 23,000 Americans came ashore here with the lowest casualties of any beach.
Where to Eat
- Le Bouchon du VaugueuxFrench Bistro
A charming bistro in Caen's historic district, offering classic French dishes in a cozy atmosphere.
- La MarineSeafood
Located in Arromanches, this restaurant specializes in fresh seafood with panoramic sea views.
- Le PommierNorman Cuisine
Situated in Bayeux, Le Pommier serves traditional Norman dishes using local ingredients.
Things to Do
- Mémorial de CaenMuseum
A comprehensive museum dedicated to World War II history and the Battle of Normandy.
- Bayeux Tapestry MuseumMuseum
Home to the famous 11th-century tapestry depicting the Norman conquest of England.
- Longues-sur-Mer BatteryHistoric Site
Well-preserved German coastal artillery battery offering insights into D-Day defenses.