Normandy

[Rolo]

Been invited on a trip to Normandy this summer, just wondering if anybody has done the WW2 stuff D Day Landings etc, where to go, things not to miss.
Routes and stuff.

[YEN_POWELL]

Falaise was good, especially the small museum about the battle there, also the castle where William the Conquerer was born. Tanks on display everywhere you go. Bayeux, home of the tapestry, (more interesting than you think) has union jacks everywhere, they are very pro British, it was the first town liberated after the beach landings I think. Roads brilliant.

[Pete Rock]

I have never visited specific things in Normandy, and never been to the beach, but have gone through the area a couple of times and both the roads and landscape are great. A very nice place to go to on a bike.

[Darkenbad]

Hi., Arromanches is good is a good stop off, remains of mulberry harbour from the D Day landings and other stuff; the American cemetery at Colleville is an impressive if sad reminder of what was going on in the area 60 years ago.


PK

[JB1]

If you drive west along the coast from Caen, everything is pretty much signposted. There are museums everywhere and especially at Arromanche where the remains of the concrete harbour that was towed all the way from UK can still be seen. Visit some of the cemeteries too which are also very well marked. I guarantee you won't manage more than 15 minutes in a cemetery without it bringing a lump to your throat (a very humbling experience). Best bet though is to borrow a book from your local library which will list most of the sites and the story to go with it.

[Shepp]

This is one trip that l intend to this year. Let me know how you get on!

[GeoBloke]

I have a wee cottage in the Cotentin peninsula and have done the D-Day ride a number of times. Well worth it. I would recommend stopping at Pont du Hoc. The French like bikers. There's little traffic and there are loads of tiny tracks to follow through villages, each with its own history, both recent and distant. My neighbour remembers looking up one night in June 1944 and seeing endless Dakotas flying overhead. DO see the tapestry in Bayeaux and then follow it up on this side of the Channel. with a visit to Battle. Buckets of decent, cheap red wine and good food. Plenty of camping if you're bringing the tent as well.

[Von Short Hausen]

OK, so is it feasible that we could do an xrv excursion. Are there Bunkhouses/Camping or B&B places we could use ?