5 Things to Experience Near Omaha Beach, France
There is peace, coupled with sadness, that cannot be denied when visiting Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Reminders of World War 2’s infamous D-Day are easily spotted in the bomb-marked landscape, which is now blanketed in soft green grass. The spirit of allied forces from The United States, Great Britain, and Canada can still be felt here as you soak up the sun.
Before we dive in, here is a brief synopsis of the part Omaha Beach played in WW2.
Omaha Beach was one of the five beaches selected for the D-Day invasion. On June 6, 1944 troops from the United States, Britain, and Canada stormed the beaches via sea from across the English Channel. Omaha was the most heavily defended and high cliffs surrounding the beach provided a vantage point for German troops to shoot from, leading to heavy casualties. American troops were able to capture the Pont Du Hoc and German gun emplacements there by the end of the day, providing a foothold.
While allied troops lost 226,000 in the battle of Normandy, D-Day was considered a major turning point in WW2 because of the large influx of troops into the area.
Here are our top 5 favorite things to do near omaha beach
I highly suggest beginning your tour of the area with a visit to Omaha Beach. Here you will find Les Braves, a giant steel sculpture, which commemorates the many soldiers who lost their lives here. The beauty of the area stands in stark contrast to the horrors that occurred. It is almost as though it has been blanketed in peace in honor of the payment made by the men who died to save so many. We enjoyed lunch at the D-Day House, a small café near the beach which has a beautiful patio. The mussels were fresh and sold by the potful!
Here, a world away from the USA, you will find yourself on what has been dedicated as American Soil. The Normandy American Cemetery is the final resting place to 9,386 American soldiers, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day Landings. It is a stunning site, immaculately cared for, and a fitting tribute. You may request to lay a wreath via their website ahead of your visit should you have a family member to pay respects to and the flag lowering ceremony that is conducted one hour before close is very beautiful. On a past visit, one of our friends, a Veteran, was selected to help fold the flag.
The Normandy American Visitor Center located here is free of charge and well worth your time. It provides history and perspective of the Normandy invasion. On-site parking is plentiful.
This museum, located in Bayeux, is home to many artifacts from World War II and walks you through the war and invasion and its impact on the area. As the museum says “every object tells their story”, from full size tanks, to uniforms worn by victims within concentration camps.
Here you can freely explore the remnants of gun battery’s left by German forces. Located on a cliff above Omaha Beach, the battery was captured on June 7, 1944 by British Forces. This is the only battery in Normandy that still has the original guns.
Pont Du Hoc is a cliffside where German gun emplacements were staged. You can still walk through some of the structures. While the original guns are no longer in place the views are staggering. This location really shows the bomb-marred landscape well and you can stand within the impressive craters left behind.
Where to Stay Near Omaha Beach
Bayeux, Normandy
The Ibis Budget Hotel in Bayeux is family friendly, clean, and a great location.
Ouistreham is a charming village by the sea and the Hotel de la Plage provided a great location to explore from. We loved the gardens, terrace, and the retro (yet clean) rooms.
