Normandy in may

[zdaveuk]

Planning to go to normandy in may rented a cottage at fontenay le pesnel between caen and bayuex for a week.

We intend to do the d day beaches and associated sites along coast , also saint mer eglise , and a run to mont saint michel .

Looking for people's must see recommendations does nt have to be d day related .

 

[Wapping]

Go on the internet.

Google: 10 things to do and see in Normandy (other than the rain)..... You found your gite without help... now finish the job!

Want some great roads to ride, mate? See the sticky.

You want personal recommendations? Pop into Waterstones and pick up a basic guide book. DK do one, with very short words and lots of pictures. Michelin's Green guide has more words but less pictures. Both (and all their siblings) are nothing but recommendations.

Here's a start: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=10...s=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

and

http://travel.michelin.com/web/destination/France-Normandy They have 332 recommendations

and

http://traveldk.com/normandy

 

[Taff]

Have a look at THIS and THIS and THIS.

Put the kettle on, grab a map and enjoy.

 

[zdaveuk]

Thanks very much
Reading time

 

[Wapping]

Job done

 

[zdaveuk]

Got both the Michelin green book and DK Guide was looking to see if anyone had found any little gems

 

[Sooty09]

Be prepared to have Normandy all to yourself.
I took holidays on that coast in May and September last year.
Hornfleur (A Very pretty harbour village) was busy as usual but the other villages were almost shut down. A few cafes were open in the evening but closed about 9.30pm. Most houses were fully shuttered up ready for summer use.
Cean will be busy as its a proper industrial town.
There are lots of military museums, some are private and are not much interest. The best ones In my opinion are the Overlord museum at Arromanches and the military museum at Bayeaux
All the landing beaches are worth a visit, if you do a bit of research such as looking at old maps and pictures its much easier to imagine how it was on D Day. As an example the Omaha beach looks like an easy landing point, there are no giant concrete walls like in the John Wayne movies. You need to understand the depth of interconnected defences.
One place I like to camp is Grandcamp Maisy, its only a few miles from the famous Point du Hock and has a recently uncovered bunker complex I have yet to visit. www.maisybattery.com

Lots to see, good roads, nice towns but so deserted.

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

I LOVE Normandy!!! I'm a regular visitor of the Normandy battlefields and bit of a WW2 History/Normandy buff, I usually book a Gite, especially if I'm taking a group. I always use Welcome Cottages in fact i stayed in a gite in Fontenay Le Pesnil too, i bet its the same one?

If you want a battlefield guide there are none better than Paul Woodage. He'll take you to places not in the guide books... tell him I sent you.

If you want a D.I.Y battlefield tour get yourself Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide of the Normandy Beaches with Map, this will take you to just about every place of significance in Normandy. There are hundreds of sites and places to visit not just the beaches, which was just the initial phase of the battle, head inland too.

Check out the Normandie44LaMemoire and NormandieMemoire sites for all the places to visit: museums, cemetries, monuments, vestiges etc. If your going to visit a lot of museums get yourself a Normandie Pass for reduced admission.

Short list of must see places, there are lots of awesome places to visit including all the major museums but these are my faves:

Benouville & Ranville: Pegasus Bridge, Gondree Cafe, 6th Airborne Div Memorial Museum, Cemetery, Major Howard & Gen Gale busts, monuments & memorials
Merville-Franceville: Merville Battery (Otway & the 9th Para Bn Assault), monuments and memorials
Saint Pierre Du Mont: Pointe Du Hoc (Rudder & the 2nd Rangers Bn Assault) monuments and memorials
Longue Sur Mer, Crisbecq, Azeville battery & block houses
St. Mere Eglise & Saint Marie Du Mont: US Airborne Museum, monuments and memorials
Brecourt Manor - PM me and if I think you're worthy I'll tell you exactly where it is! Most people got to the wrong field...
La Fiere: Iron Mike Memorial Monument
Arromanche: concrete cassions, Landing museum, the 360 cinema
Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer: Omaha Beach, museum, US cemetery, 1st Div & 20th Div Monument
Crepon: Green Howard Memorial Monument

Remember, it's not all about the beaches, that was just the initial part of the operation. Head inland too:

Saint-Martin-des-Besaces & Villers Bocage: breakthrough Museum (11th Armoured & Bocage territory)
Montormel: Museum & Memorial (Falaise Gap)
Mount Pincon
Cagny: Guards Armoured & Goodwood monuments & memorial

Lots of cememteries inland: check out La Cambe (Big German) and Jerusalem (Smallest CWGC including a 16 year lad KIA)

There are literally hundreds of places of interest... just keep your eyes peeled! Remember every inch of Normandy was fought over.

 

[Taff]

I'm sure it must be mentioned somewhere in one of those liks I gave you, but make a point of going to Dead Mans Corner. It's one of the best "museums" I've been to. Definately worth a trip.