Things to do in Bénouville

Tour Duration approx. 8 hours Pickup time approx. 9.00 hrs Drop-off approx. 17.00 hrs Location in or near Bayeux / Carentan / Cherbourg (Other locations can be arranged) Capacity max. 5 persons Lunch price is not included in the tourfee. Your guide will discuss arrangements on the morning of the tour. Let us show you the American landing beaches like Omaha and Utah Beach. Walk over the grounds where the American Rangers tried so hard to silence the big guns at Pointe du Hoc. Discover the American Airborne targets like Carentan, Sainte Mère Eglise, la Fière Bridge and la Barquette locks, and learn about the battle of the hedgerows and offers brought by these paratroopers. Walk over the grounds where the American Rangers tried so hard to silence the big guns at Pointe du Hoc.

Explore the D-Day British and Canadian beaches with an expert guide on this immersive historical tour of Normandy. Delve into the pivotal events of World War II as you visit key sites where Allied forces made their courageous landings and pushed inland to liberate France. Highlights of the Tour: Pegasus Bridge: Begin your journey at Pegasus Bridge, a crucial objective on D-Day. Learn about the daring glider assault by British troops that secured the bridge early in the operation. Gain insights into the strategic importance of Pegasus Bridge and its role in facilitating the Allied advance. British and Canadian Beaches: Visit the British and Canadian sectors of the Normandy coast, where Allied troops landed on D-Day. Depending on the season and preferences, explore beaches such as Sword, Juno, and Gold. Stand on these historic sands and reflect on the bravery of the soldiers who stormed these shores. Inland Battle Sites: Explore significant inland battle sites, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Allied campaign to liberate Normandy. Discover the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of the Allied forces as they fought inland from the beaches. Personalized Experience: Enjoy a personalized tour experience tailored to your interests and the group’s preferences. Your expert guide will share captivating stories and provide historical context throughout the journey. Culinary Delights: During the tour, your guide will recommend excellent local restaurants for lunch (not included). Sample regional cuisine and savor the flavors of Normandy. Comfort and Accessibility: Families are welcome, with baby seats and booster seats available upon request to ensure comfort during transportation. Multilingual Tour: Available in English, German, and French, catering to a diverse range of visitors. Embark on a poignant journey through history, paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the Allied soldiers who fought for freedom during the D-Day landings and the subsequent Normandy campaign. This tour offers an unforgettable opportunity to immerse yourself in the stories and landscapes of one of the most pivotal moments of World War II.

Explore the Normandy region with a private guide who is passionate about the area's history and heritage. The tour follow the footsteps of the British infantry division, Royal engineers and 6th Airborne led by Major Genearl Howard. - Longues sur mer, German gun position with guns still in pillboxes - Arromanches harbor, Artificial harbor designed by Royal Engineers and used during the wartime. - Ver sur mer British memorial - Sword Beach and its landing of 28 000 British on Dday - Ranville cemetery 2567 soldiers rest in peace in this peace of land (optional) Grand bunker museum (entrance fees not included), only bunker in Normandy with the whole German equipment. - Pegasus Bridge First bridge captured on Dday by the British 6th airborne

Our first stop will be Sword sector to learn more about Operation Deadstick led by the 6th Airborne Division who captured Pegasus bridge on Caen canal and Horsa bridge on Orne river in the early hours of D-Day. You will discover a Memorial in honour of the men of the 3 gliders that realized a fantastic landing in a tiny space between the two rivers. You will discover on the other bank of the river Café Gondré still a restaurant today and maybe you will have the opportunity to meet the owner who was 5 years old when she saw the first British paratroopers to come into her house and used it as a medical station. Her place is considered to be the first house to be liberated in France. That lady is also one of the last witness that saw the production of the movie the Longest Day that was filmed there and we can't forget that bapiper crossing the bridge under the enemy fire. Then, you will pay tribute to the 2.563 men who died fighting for freedom in the Ranville War Cemetery devoted mainly to the 6th British airborne division. You will honor among those young soldiers, Den Brotheridge, considered to be the first Allied soldier to be killed, Robert Bobby who died at 16 years old or Emile Corteil burried with his paratrooper dog. The late morning will conclude with a visit to Sword Beach where the 3rd British division landed. Among it, 177 French soldiers under the orders of the British commandos had the honor to step the first on the french soil 4 years after the German invasion. After a lunch break, we will continue on to Gold Beach where the 50th Infantry Division landed. Your guide will explain you the key facts of the success of the Battle of Normandy thanks to the construction of the artificial port of Arromanches codenamed Mulberry B with a stunning view on the remains of the Phoenix caissons, the unloading dock and pontoons. Then further west of the village, you will explore another location filmed for the needs of the movie The Longest Day with the famous scene of this German officer (Werner Pluskat) who saw from his command post thousands of Allied ships arriving from England. The Longues-sur-Mer artillery coastal battery covering Gold and Omaha beaches includes a firing command post and four casemates, 3 of them still housing a 150 mm artillery piece. This element of the Altantic wall is the only place with the guns still in place in Normandy.

The Normandy landings on 6th June 1944 were undoubtedly the most complex military operation ever orchestrated, more than 6,000 warships, transport vessels and landing craft carried the liberating land forces across the Channel, while thousands of aircraft supported this armada. Around 160,000 troops landed on D-Day. GOLD BEACH like many D-Day beaches, is dotted with quaint cottages and pretty little seaside villages. The main objective was to capture the village of Arromanches, make contact with U.S. troops at Omaha Beach, capture the town of Bayeux and finally meet up with Canadian troops at Juno Beach. Today, however, we know Gold Beach more for what happened after D-Day in particular, the artificial harbour (codenamed 'Mulberries') at Arromanches. “I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck!” — Winston CHURCHILL What to see ? German Battery at Longues-sur-Mer The Landing Museum at Arromanches Bayeux WWII Commonwealth cemetery largest in France JUNO BEACH is in the Canadian sector, it was a code name given by the Allies. This sector stretches from Bernières-sur-Mer to Courseulles-sur-Mer. Between the British beaches of Gold and Sword, the Juno Beach sector corresponds to the part of the coastline allocated to the Canadians. This sector was occupied by large coastal villages, which by the end of the 19th century had become charming seaside resorts. The main objective was to cut the Bayeux to Caen road, capture the Carpiquet Airfield and link together the two British landing sectors. What to see ? Juno Beach Center, Canada’s only WWII museum in Europe Juno Park Bény-sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery SWORD BEACH is the easternmost of the five D-Day landing beaches. Along with Gold Beach, Sword Beach was one of the two British landing zones. The main objective was to capture the city of Caen. Caen is the largest town in the area and the one through which all the main roads in the Normandy countryside pass. What to see ? Memorial Pegasus and bridge in Bénouville Pegasus bridge café Le Grand Bunker in Ouistreham Hillman site German bunker complex in Colleville Montgomery This area is rich in history and there are so many things to do and places to visit. My aim is to give you a good overview of the D-Day beaches. If there is a particular place that really resonates to you, make sure you tell me, even if it means you can't see everything. Make sure also everyone else agrees too!

Our first stop will be Sword sector to learn more about Operation Deadstick led by the 6th Airborne Division who captured Pegasus bridge on Caen canal and Horsa bridge on Orne river in the early hours of D-Day. You will discover a Memorial in honour of the men of the 3 gliders that realized a fantastic landing in a tiny space between the two rivers. You will discover on the other bank of the river Café Gondré still a restaurant today and maybe you will have the opportunity to meet the owner who was 5 years old when she saw the first British paratroopers to come into her house and used it as a medical station. Her place is considered to be the first house to be liberated in France. That lady is also one of the last witness that saw the production of the movie the Longest Day that was filmed there and we can't forget that bapiper crossing the bridge under the enemy fire. Then, you will pay tribute to the 2.563 men who died fighting for freedom in the Ranville War Cemetery devoted mainly to the 6th British airborne division. You will honor among those young soldiers, Den Brotheridge, considered to be the first Allied soldier to be killed, Robert Bobby who died at 16 years old or Emile Corteil burried with his paratrooper dog. The late morning will conclude with a visit to Sword Beach where the 3rd British division landed. Among it, 177 French soldiers under the orders of the British commandos had the honor to step the first on the french soil 4 years after the German invasion. After a lunch break, we will continue on to Gold Beach where the 50th Infantry Division landed. Your guide will explain you the key facts of the success of the Battle of Normandy thanks to the construction of the artificial port of Arromanches codenamed Mulberry B with a stunning view on the remains of the Phoenix caissons, the unloading dock and pontoons. Then further west of the village, you will explore another location filmed for the needs of the movie The Longest Day with the famous scene of this German officer (Werner Pluskat) who saw from his command post thousands of Allied ships arriving from England. The Longues-sur-Mer artillery coastal battery covering Gold and Omaha beaches includes a firing command post and four casemates, 3 of them still housing a 150 mm artillery piece. This element of the Altantic wall is the only place with the guns still in place in Normandy.