This morning we'll board an early train for a short trip to the beautiful medieval town of Bayeux, near the coast. Using the town as our base, we'll spend a full day exploring the incredible WWII sites of the area, the location of one of the most historic events in human history, the invasion of Europe by the Allies. Our first stop will be the quaint but famous town of St. Mere Eglise, epicenter of one of the nighttime airborne landings that preceded the coastal landings. Then you’ll have time to visit the fascinating Airborne Museum in St. Mere Eglise, which chronicles the largest airborne assault in history as 14,000 troops of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5-6, 1944, to start the invasion. The museum has an astounding array of equipment on display including a C-47 aircraft and a Waco glider. Many interactive displays highlight the operation and the men who pulled it off. Then we'll visit Utah beach and get a chance to walk its shores and imagine the events that occurred there. By now it will be lunchtime, so we’ll take a quick break to have a bite at a local brassiere.
After lunch we’ll visit the Museum of the Landing, located on Utah beach. The museum recounts the story of D-Day from the preparation of the landing to the final outcome and success. This journey immerses visitors in the history of the day through a rich collection of objects, vehicles, materials, and oral histories. The museum’s star is an authentic B-26 medium bomber.
If time permits, we'll have a chance to visit the infamous rocks and bunkers of Pointe du Hoc, the fortified German artillery position situated on the cliffs between Utah and Omaha beaches. Its position dominated the landing beaches and was a major obstacle to the invasion. The US Army Rangers scaled the cliffs under the huge guns and assaulted the position in the pre-dawn darkness of June 6.
As the afternoon shadows lengthen, we’ll journey to nearby Saint Laurent to visit Bloody Omaha beach. 34,250 Americans landed here, but in the first wave over 1,000 men were killed, nearly 50% of the assaulting troops. We'll have time to walk the beach and try to imagine what it must have been like for the men coming ashore under intense fire.
Lastly, we'll spend time at the nearby American Cemetery of Normandy. Located on the coast, between Arromanches and Grandcamp Maisy, this vast site overlooks Omaha beach. It reunites the graves of 9,387 soldiers fallen in combat. The chapel, Memorial, and the Walls of the Missing complete the site. The Visitor Center pays homage to the courage and the skill that were required to conduct Operation Overlord and to ensure Europe's liberation, together with the ultimate sacrifice made by those who are laid to rest within this site. Truly a moving experience.
After a full day experiencing this historic area, we'll retire to our hotel in Bayeux city center to relax and recover from an amazing day. Tonight, we’ll sit down to a marvelous dinner at one of the local bistros.
NOTE: In lieu of the Normandy portion of the Paris extension, you can opt for a free day in Paris on Day 3, then reconnect with your group for the train to Bordeaux. During day 3 you have the option to visit the amazing Palace at Versailles.