Things to do in  Normandy

Soaring up out of the bay, Mont-St-Michel seems as dramatic today as it must have been to its medieval pilgrims, who braved quicksand and strong tidal waves to reach it. Today, visitors cross the bay by easier means (shuttle bus or walking with a guide) to see historical treasures inside its intact fortress walls. For many, a highlight of the UNESCO–listed island is the abbey, where nuns and monks keep Mont-St-Michel’s religious heritage alive.

A short trip from Paris, the Normandy village of Giverny is best known as the former home of artist Claude Monet, who created many of his iconic paintings here. Most visitors head to this tiny, bucolic village to see the impressionist master’s beautifully preserved home and gardens, which feature the famous water lily pond and Japanese gardens that inspired many of his artworks.

Out of the five D-Day beaches, Omaha Beach is perhaps the most poignant for US visitors. Along with Utah Beach, it was a designated landing zone for US troops, but it saw the fiercest fighting and became known as “Bloody Omaha.” Today, visitors can not only see the beach, but also admire Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge steel sculpture, pay respects to the fallen at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, and visit Omaha Beach Memorial Museum.

Located above Omaha Beach, just outside Bayeux, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a moving World War II-era site. It’s the final resting place of almost 9,400 soldiers, the vast majority of whom lost their lives fighting the D-Day battles in Normandy in June 1944. Other WWII heroes are buried here as well, and 1,600 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.

One of France’s most important World War II landmarks, Pointe du Hoc is best known for its role in the D-Day Landings. Today, the promontory overlooking the Normandy coast is a destination for history buffs, those with personal ties to the conflict, and others wishing to pay tribute to the many soldiers who lost their lives here.

Brittany (Bretagne) is the westernmost region in France, a peninsula on the northwest coast that stretches out into the Atlantic. Home to destinations such as Rennes, which has a thriving student community; Brest, an off-the-beaten-path city; and the walled former island of Saint-Malo, Brittany is rich in history, naturally beautiful, and too often overlooked in favor of Paris and the French Riviera.

Discover the captivating story of Sainte-Mère-Église, a once little-known village that gained notoriety during World War II. It was here that American troops made their mark on June 6, 1944, liberating the village from Nazi occupation as part of Operation Overlord. You can learn about the fascinating history of this town in Normandy, while admiring the tranquility of rural France.

Utah Beach was the westernmost landing point on D-Day. The main attraction at the site of the landing is the Utah Beach D-Day Museum (Musée du Débarquement), which focuses on the extraordinary battle. The museum also holds exhibits that offer a deep dive into French life under German occupation.

The only battery on the Normandy coast to have preserved the guns and casements precisely as they stood in 1944, Longues-sur-Mer is unique. Between the famous landing beaches of Gold and Omaha, it was the target of over 1,500 bombs by Allied forces during the D-Day landings and was taken over by the Allies on June 7, the day after D-Day.

The Juno Beach Centre (Centre Juno Beach) is a museum dedicated to the heroism of Canadian troops in the D-Day landings and the entirety of the Second World War. Located in Normandy, the center draws visitors from Canada and across the world wanting to remember their fallen patriots and learn more about France’s role in the Allied victory.

The Bayeux Tapestry (Tapisserie de Bayeux) might be almost 1,000 years old, but it’s still one of the top tourist attractions in northern France. Housed in a purpose-built museum and depicting the infamous Norman invasion of England, its detailed needlework and impressive size draw hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the world every year.

Located a short drive from the D-Day Landing Beaches, the Caen Memorial Museum (Mémorial de Caen) puts one of the most significant battles of World War II into historical context. The museum gardens serve as a poignant tribute to the international soldiers that lost their lives on Norman soil.

More than 2,000 Canadian soldiers who died on Normandy beaches and battlefields are buried in this Second World War Cemetery. Lines of white headstones stretch across manicured grounds, here, and memorials repose in the shade of leafy, mature trees. Veterans Affairs Canada manages the grounds, which France has granted to Canada.

On the coast of Normandy, Arromanches 360 is a circular cinema with nine screens that work together to create an immersive cinematic experience. Here, visitors can watch an HD film that tells the story of the 100-day Battle of Normandy during World War II, complete with archival footage from France, Germany, the UK, Canada, and the US.

D-Day troops arriving in Normandy crossed the Caen Canal as they sought to liberate occupied France. The bridge they used was later renamed Pegasus Bridge to honor the British Parachute Regiment. Now, the bridge is part of the Pegasus Memorial Museum, alongside exhibits featuring Second World War artifacts and soldiers’ personal effects.