Sites and attractions

The Battle of Normandy Historical Area is a veritable open-air museum covering the three departements of Calvados, Manche and Orne, and includes all the sites, museums and memorials associated with D-Day and the invasion. 

Highlighted by the logo "Normandie Terre - Liberté" (Normandy Land- Freedom), eight chronological trails allow visitors to discover the historical sites and understand the progress of this great battle which decided the outcome of the Second World War.  

• Discover the story of the battle in an original way Experience Normandy Far from Ordinary
• For more information on the Battle of Normandy, visit the Normandie Mémoire website which provides all the details of this decisive chapter in the history of the world.

OVERLORD - L'ASSAUT (THE ATTACK)

This trail takes its name from the name given by the Allies to the overall plan for the Allied invasion of north-west Europe, and links the numerous places and events which played a part in the Anglo-Canadian sector on the momentous day of 6th June 1944.

D-DAY - LE CHOC (THE ONSLAUGHT)

Based on the American offensive, starting from the notorious Omaha Beach, the setting for one of the most terrible battles of the invasion, this circuit leads from Bayeux to the capture of  Saint-Lô and Carentan. It conveys the violence of the fighting, particularly on "Bloody Omaha" where at dawn on D-Day assault waves from the US 1st Infantry Division confronted determined resistance from German troops, and the Point du Hoc, site of the heroic action of the Rangers under Colonel Rudder.

OBJECTIF - UN PORT (TARGET - A PORT)

To supply the troops after the landings, the Allies urgently needed a deep-water port. The primary objective of the American troops on Utah Beach and around Sainte-Mère-Eglise was to take the port of Cherbourg. This circuit follows key sites on the route to Cherbourg taken by General Collins and the 7th Army Corps.

L'AFFRONTEMENT (THE CLASH)

This circuit starts from Bénouville and completes the "Overlord - l'Assaut" circuit by following the very difficult Allied advance south, and the consolidation of their bridgehead.

COBRA - LA PERCÉE (THE BREAK-THROUGH)

On 25th July 1944, the Allies decided to launch Operation Cobra. Led by General Patton, the objective of this offensive was to reach Avranches by following the coast, in order to open the front on the west and free Brittany, so as to bypass the German forces on the south, and prepare for a pincer movement around the Falaise pocket. 

LA CONTRE-ATTAQUE (COUNTER-ATTACK)

The Avranches break-through took the Germans by surprise. Hitler ordered a counter-offensive with the objective of cutting off the rear of the newly-formed American 3rd Army, which had entered Brittany. The offensive took place at Mortain, which is where the counter-offensive began.

L'ENCERCLEMENT (ENCIRCLEMENT)

This circuit, from Alençon to L'Aigle, demonstrates the closing of the southern encircling movement around the German forces trying to leave Normandy during the middle of August 1944.

LE DÉNOUEMENT (CONCLUSION)

This circuit starts from Caen, and corresponds to the phase when Allied movements converged on the most decisive battlefield in the fight for Normandy - the Falaise-Chamboise Pocket - before reaching and liberating L'Aigle, which opened the way to the Seine valley for the Allied armies. On Tuesday 22nd August 1944, American and Polish troops entered Chamboise, closing the Falaise Pocket and bringing the Battle of Normandy to an end.