4 of the Best D Day Sites You Need to Visit in Normandy

D-Day was one of the most significant events during World War II. It is termed as the largest invasion in history and was a turning point in the Second World War. Every year, thousands of people visit Normandy to learn about this important event and pay their respects to the soldiers who lost their lives. 

If you also love visiting historical sites and are planning to go to Normandy, there are a number of D-Day sites in Normandy, France that are worth visiting. These sites help to tell the story of what happened on that day and provide a unique perspective on the historical events. 

1. Memorial de Caen

If you’re looking to learn more about the history of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, Memorial de Caen is one of the best sites to visit. This museum is one of the best D-Day memorials, as it contains a wealth of information about the history of the region in terms of World War II. 

It contains a variety of exhibits, including interactive displays and personal stories from veterans of the war. There is also a beautiful memorial garden on the grounds of the museum. This is a perfect place to reflect on the sacrifices made by soldiers who fought in the Battle of Normandy. 

2. Beaches of Normandy

The beaches of Normandy are the places where the real battles happened during World War II. There are five beaches in total, including Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beach. 

Omaha beach was the deadliest beach among all. So, wherever you go to Normandy, make sure to visit each of these beaches to have a sneak peek into the history. 

These beaches are still preserved and offer a lot of history and information about different aspects of the D-Day invasion. There are multiple D Day tours arranged from within Europe to these destinations. You can book a tour with a registered tour company to visit all the sites that were part of the D-Day landings. 

3. Normandy American Cemetery

The American Cemetery of Normandy is a representation of the sacrifices made by the thousands of soldiers to ensure a bright future for their homeland and its people. This cemetery will force you to ask yourself questions like, ‘have I made their sacrifices worthwhile?’. 

This is a bit of an emotional site for the tourists as it sits on a cliff that overlooks Omaha Beach. This is the same place where most of the landings of the Allied forces happened on D Day. This land was given to the United States for free and is now considered American soil.

4. The Pegasus Bridge

The Pegasus bridge was originally built in the 1930s, and it crosses the Caen Canal, which was captured by airborne forces. This event took place early on D-Day (6 June 1944). Since then, this bridge has been kept safe as a war memorial site and now stands as a central artifact in the Memorial Pegasus Museum. 

All of these are some of the best things to do in Normandy, and it is advised to visit each one of them when you are there.