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The missus and I are planning a (non-bike) road trip to N. France at the beginning of Sept. We're both military history junkies, so want to see the WW1 & 2 battlefields. (that sounds hideously touristy/ghoulish. Hopefully we have more respect for those who died from all nations than my lack of skill with words implies).
Rough plan currently is:-
Chunnel
Dunkirk
Somme
Ypres/Menin Gate
Head to Normandy
D-Day Beaches
Honfleur (seems rather pretty)
Bayeux (her dad is a medieval history expert to need to see the tapestry while we're there)
Caen
Mont St Michel
Cemetries (of which there are no shortage 🙁 )
What else should we see? Looking at the Normandy tourist board website, there's SO many options, its difficult to make rational choices.
Thanks
Jon
Omaha beach for definite, you can go in some of the trenches above the beach and you just wonder how the hell any of them got off alive.
the omaha and bayeux cemeteries are so quiet and impressive too.
(that sounds hideously touristy/ghoulish. Hopefully we have more respect for those who died from all nations than my lack of skill with words implies).
It's not at all ghoulish. It's an important part of history and should be remembered.
My daughter went on a school trip last year and laid wreaths at the graves of family members and took part in the Menin Gate ceremony.
If my cynical 14 year old daughter can get something positive from it then I'm sure you will too.
http://normandy.memorial-caen.com/
I know Caen is on your list, but if you weren't planning to already, make sure you go to the museum.
How long are you going for? That’s quite a lot to go at! Vimy Ridge is well worth a visit as is Pointe du Hoc, and don’t forget St Mere Eglise.
If your route is as above from Bayeux to Caen you'll drive through Rots. There is a memorial to those that died in the ferocious fighting that took place there. One of the memorials is to the men of 46 Royal Marines Commando, the friends and colleagues of my next door neighbour Steve who is a man who'd be an inspiration to anyone. 97 now and in constant pain from the wounds he suffered during the war and subsequently riding his motorbikes a little too fast but who never lets it get him down. I'm sure not a day has passed in the last 75 years when he hasn't thought of all the years he has been given that his friends never had the chance to live.