Normandy France
Short Breaks and Holidays

If you are considering a getaway to Normandy France, this guide will highlight the best places to visit, where to stay and sights to see.

Normandy is a very interesting area to explore....especially considering all of the history connected with WWII and the Normandy invasion.

It makes a perfect short break from Paris....which is relatively close.

This guide includes the small town of Arromanches Normandy, the many nearby D Day sights and more.

WWII Bunker on Normandy Beach

Normandy Weather - The weather in this area is moderate with summers from 75-80 degrees F and winters barely going below freezing. I would avoid August when much of Europe is on holiday and weekends, also. Spring and Fall would be a great time for Normandy vacations.

Arromanches France

The first place that comes to mind when people think of Normandy France is often the World War II sites connected with D Day.

The closest town to this area is Arromanches Normandy. This is a small, touristy town....a good place to stay if you really want to focus for a few days on the beaches of Normandy and D Day sites.

There is a D Day Landing Museum with a 360 degree theatre, maps, momentos and videos describing the creation of Port Winston, the first prefab harbor. A stroll on the beach will reveal rusted remains and reminders of the famous Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944 when almost 1500 American, 2700 British and 500 Canadian soldiers died.

D Day Sights to See

American Cemetery
9,387 tombstones, memorial relief telling the story of D Day, and the Garden of the Missing with the names of over 1500 soldiers that were never found.....make this a moving visit
Vierville Sur Mer and the Pointe de Hoe Ranger Monument, near Omaha beach, where British hooks and ladders were used to reach the top of the cliffs to attack the Germans
Longues Sur Mer Gun Battery - 4 German bunkers with guns intact
German Mlitary Cemetery where 21,000 German soldiers were buried
Ste. Mere Eglisce - first village liberated by allied paratroppers
Juno Beach Center - describes Canadian part in D Day invasion with films and exhibits

Arromanches Hotels

Hotel de La Marine - 28 rooms, overlooking Port Winston, breakfast
Hotel Mountbatten - Tel. 33 231 225 970, economical hotel a couple of blocks from the beach, continental breakfast

Bed and Breakfast (Chambres d'hotes)

La Gloriette - nice rooms, outside town, breakfast
Arroplace - Tel. 33 231 219 791, simple guest rooms overlooking the sea
Manior de la Riviere - lovely old manor farmhouse Bed and Breakfast near Omaha Beach, 3 B&B rooms and 2 self catering apartments