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05 December 2014 / 13 Comments

The Normandy landings in France

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It is one thing to read about the Normandy landings in France, and another thing to travel to the place where it all happened. To come to Normandy is to make a journey through history. On 6 June 1944, the great landing in Normandy, France, took place as the Allies launched Operation Overlord. We visited Arromanches and were touched by history.

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The landing in Normandy


The Allies started Operation Overlordwhich was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, on 6 June 1944. The landing took place on five different beaches, which still use their code names: Sword, Juno, Gold, Utah and Omaha.

Normandie

Allied harbours

For the Normandy landing to be possible, it had to be made to work practically. To get supplies for the troops, the Allies needed a harbour.

After a previous failure, they knew they couldn't take over one harbour from the Germans, so they decided to build two new harbours instead. They used old cargo ships to build a breakwater and then brought in huge concrete blocks.

Arromanches

Arromaches-les-Bains

One harbour was built at 'Gold Beach' here in Arromanches-les-Bains, or Arromanches as the resort is commonly known, and you can still see the concrete blocks lying in the water.

Both on the beach and in the sea outside, you can see the remains of the artificial harbour Mulberry B, which was towed across the English Channel to get here. The second harbour, known as Mulberry B, was built off Utah Beach and was destroyed by a storm after only a few days.

Memorial to the Normandy Landings

It's really fascinating to stand here and watch, while trying to understand what once happened here! In one way it's just now, and in another way it's a very long time ago. When you're there, you're really moved and everything comes crashing down on you. You feel sad and think that we are so spared all the misery that happened during the war, but that these people had to endure.

Arromanches Normandie

Museum of the Normandy Landings

There is also a small museum in Arromanches that displays models, war equipment and some films from the Normandy landings. The museum is located right on the beach and is really not difficult to find.

We have walked around the museum today and have to say that this is something that affects you. Maybe we wouldn't have felt the same way if the museum was somewhere else in the world, but when the allied harbour is still out there in the water - it all becomes incredibly real!

Landstigningen i Normandie, Arromanches
At the Landing Museum in Arromaches-les-Bains

Normandy beaches

Normandy's beaches are long, flat and open to the sea, and the promenades are lined with large, beautiful villas. The setting is reminiscent of a bygone era, or perhaps a film. There are also large red warning signs at regular intervals, reminding you of the powerful forces of the tide.

varning för tidvatten
Tides change the environment in just a few hours
Normandie
Outside, remnants of the Normandy landings are visible.
Normandie stränder
We walk along the beaches of Normandy

In Arromanches by campervan

We visited Arromanches with a campervan, and luckily France has some nice sites with automated services such as electricity, water and tank emptying. We found an excellent site in Arromanches, south of Cabourg. The site itself is completely free, and if you need electricity or water, you pay with coins in a vending machine.

Normandie Frankrike, Arromanches
Beautiful houses along the beaches of Arromanches
Arromanches
Motorhome parking in Arromanches

Facts about Arromanches

  • What country? France
  • Region? Normandy
  • Arrondissement? Bayeux
  • Canton? Ryes
  • Language? French (some also speak English)
  • Residents? 600 (2009)
  • Currency? Euro
  • Price point? As in Sweden
  • Time difference? None
  • Emergency number? 112
  • El? Like Sweden
  • Water? Drinkable

Travelling to Arromanches

  • FlightsThere are direct flights from Arlanda airport to Paris, taking 2 hours 45 minutes with Air France, SAS or KLM. From here you can continue by car hire, for example.
  • BilYou can also travel to Arromanches by car, which from Stockholm takes a total of about 22.5 hours driving time. Ferry Gothenburg-Kiel with Stena Line takes 14 h 30 min.

Accommodation in Arromanches

  • HotelIn Arromanches, there are several hotels in excellent locations to experience the history of the Normandy landings. Check for example on Trivago.se
  • Parking spaceIf you are travelling by motorhome, there is a central site in Arromanches, within walking distance of the sea and shops. The site is located on Rue Francois Carpentier.

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05 December 2014 17:27
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Honfleur in France - medieval town in Normandy

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10 Comments

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  1. Belfina says:

    I look in my travel report from 2011 and there is a photo from exactly the same place where Peter is standing. The small souvenir that we brought home and which does not take up much space was a metal "cricket". These were used by the American soldiers at the landing to communicate with each other. There is a clicking sound. Whether it sounds like a cricket, as cricket means, I don't know. Continuing to revive memories with you.

    05 December 2014 - 18:44

    Reply

  2. Ditte says:

    Yes, a historical journey here in the region is almost a must. Hard to even imagine what it was like. But I have been told everything by my father (died 2005) and he used to stand on one of the rocks, when it was low tide, and tell his cadets, Nordic politicians and others who were on the annual trip here to Arromanches about what really happened. A good book to read is D-Day by David Howard, who was also involved in the invasion.
    I hope you will also visit the Pegasus Bridge and Café Gondré, which also played an important role in the liberation of France.
    Enjoy! And for me, it will be another trip to Normandy for sure.

    05 December 2014 - 19:28

    Reply

  3. Comment by post author

    admin says:

    Belfina, fun that you were in exactly the same place! Funny also that you tell about your little souvenir, I had not heard of them!

    Ditte, interesting to hear that it was precisely here to Arromanches the travellers used to go! We have crossed the Pegasus Bridge. What is Café Gondre?

    05 December 2014 - 19:51

    Reply

  4. BP says:

    Thanks for that tip! I have seen a number of films about D-day, but never seen the famous beach. Nice that Ditte complements your post with additional information.

    05 December 2014 - 21:06

    Reply

  5. Matts Torebring says:

    Everyone should go here to experience all the curses of war, straight from the history books. Enjoy your trip

    05 December 2014 - 21:14

    Reply

  6. Ulla & Torgny says:

    We made that trip four years ago and it was a reminder not to forget.

    Happy Advent!

    06 December 2014 - 0:27

    Reply

  7. Marina says:

    It is always exciting to "experience history in situ". And it becomes even more interesting when it's about history that feels within reach and you have people around you who have experienced it (even if it starts to thin out on those who were involved in the Second World War, it still feels like quite "modern history").

    06 December 2014 - 4:36

    Reply

  8. Lots of other stuff and some concrete says:

    What a varied coastline! So beautiful with the high cliffs and then the long sandy beaches.
    Interesting with some history too!

    Have a nice trip!
    Agneta

    06 December 2014 - 7:23

    Reply

  9. Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

    Refrigerator
    Remove the grille on the outside of the car and you will see the burner. Carefully take it easy to break off the spikes that lock it. Do not touch the burner with your fingers when blowing on the burner. It may be a soot flake that has settled.
    This has helped me
    Worth a try

    Nisse

    06 December 2014 - 10:37

    Reply

  10. Comment by post author

    admin says:

    BP, you've heard about the landing many times, but there was still a lot that was new to me!

    Matts, everyone should get a little more history! It became very real here, where so much remains.

    Ulla & Torgny, what a reminder! More interesting and a greater experience than we had expected.

    Marina, can agree. This story is not so distant, which makes it even more real.

    Agneta, the coast is incredibly beautiful and dramatic!

    Nisse, thank you very much for the tip! We think it might be a soot flake. Peter "knocked a little" yesterday and then it started, may have been a soot flake that got stuck. But many thanks for the tips, we have learnt a little more now, and we do not know if the problem will return.

    06 December 2014 - 11:28

    Reply

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