10 MUST SEES OF NORMANDY & THE WESTERN FRONT
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORMANDY & THE WESTERN FRONT SERIES
10 must sees of Normandy & The Western Front. Our trip to Normandy and The Western Front was only meant to be a long weekend. That was until I started to research and 4/5 days turned into 3 weeks.
LEST WE FORGET
We didn’t miss a beat, my head was overheating at the number of museums and memorials we visited, there is just so much to see, almost too much where you might end up missing something worthwhile.
WHERE IS NORMANDY?
Normandy
10 MUST SEES OF NORMANDY & THE WESTERN FRONT
1 – THE MANY CEMETERIES.
The American Cemetery of Normandy, The British Cemetery of Normandy are obviously two must visits but don’t miss the German one in La Cambe. Take a walk through the small museum and read about the Nazis who are buried there.
10 must sees of Normandy & The Western Front
2 – PEGASUS BRIDGE & CAFE.
On the morning of the D-DAY landings Allied paratroopers landed behind enemy lines to seize control of several strategic bridges and routes. With its links to the east, Pegasus Bridge was one of the most important. Upon getting control of this bridge, the allies then worked to secure the area and Gondree Cafe immediately became the first building liberated in Europe.
10 must sees of Normandy & The Western Front
3 – 101ST AIRBORNE MUSEUM OF NORMANDY.
Learn the story of the paratroopers who landed behind enemy lines on the morning of the D-Day landings. Includes an incredible walk through a model aircraft flying over Normandy with all the smoke, vibration and sound effects you could imagine
10 must sees of Normandy & The Western Front
FLAG….
- RED – expressed the social thought underlying the movement.
- WHITE – the national thought.
- BLACK SWASTIKA – was an emblem of the “Aryan race” and “the ideal of creative work which is in itself and always will be anti-Semitic.”
4 – THE SOMME MUSEUM.
See exhibits and models in this amazing underground museum of one of the worst battles during WW1.
10 must sees of Normandy & The Western Front
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5 – CAEN MUSEUM.
The Museum that has almost everything, from before the german invasion to the Cold War in the 90’s. Give yourself at least half a day but if you can, give it the full day. Trust me.
FACTS:
- World War II was a continuation of World War I as Hitler garnered supported because they felt Germany was treated unfairly after World War II.
- The Japanese used pilots who were instructed to crash into Allied ships. They were called kamikazes and were responsible for destroying more than 300 U.S. ships and 15,000 casualties.
- Approximately 60 million people died in WWII.
6 – d’EPERLECQUES.
Where Hitler planned to make and launch the infamous V1&V2 bomb. Get inside and explore one of the most surreal buildings which would have changed the tide of the war.
7 – RING OF REMEMBRANCE.
Beside France’s biggest military cemetery the Ring of Remembrance lists over 600,000 names of those who died in the surrounding area. The cantilever at the far end represents the fragility of peace.
8 – PASSCHENDAELE MUSEUM & TRENCHES.
An incredible museum that ends with a walk through tunnels and some of the most preserved tranches we visited. Although very polished compared to how they would have been, it gives you a great insight.
9 – MENIN GATE CEREMONY.
Visit this memorial where 55,000 names of the missing are engraved. Every evening the road closes for a short ceremony held by the local Buglers of the Last Post Association. This has been an active part of the town since 1921 and tourists are invited to attend and pay their respects. Get there for 19:30 for a decent spot to stand.
10 – BATTERIES DE MERVILLE.
There are many of these, all offering something different and worth going to but with the immersive experience at the end, this has to be the best.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There is an incredible number of museums, monuments and Batteries around the Western Front. I should know, I felt the need to visit nearly all of them. But the 10 listed above are by far the best I visited.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
This post is part of The Normandy & Western Front Series for the entire series click here or for episode 1 click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
