Normandy Cultural History Tour

An early start, as you make your way from school to France, collecting your guide before crossing (Dover, Folkestone or Portsmouth crossings available). The airborne troops landed behind enemy lines at night, many hours before the coastal landings and you will start with a visit to Pegasus Bridge. Vital to the overall plan, hear about their heroism and stand on the ground where the gliders landed with extreme accuracy, surprising the Germans and capturing the bridge. Just across the road you will then visit the Memorial Pegasus Museum, which focuses on the Airborne Forces contribution in June 1944, before heading to our hostel.

Today you will continue to follow in the steps of the British Troops, visiting some of the many sites, cemeteries and memorials. The first stop is at Ranville CWGC Cemetery, where the first Allied soldier to be killed as a result of enemy fire on D-Day is buried, together with Private R J Jones, at aged just 16 was the youngest paratrooper to die in the Second World War. Just a short drive to Merville Battery which was a gun battery and it was believed that the guns could threaten the landings at Sword Beach. The British 9th Parachute Battalion was tasked with destroying it and you will hear the story of how they captured the battery at great loss. The battery is still preserved and home to a fascinating museum, complete with a restored Douglas C-47 and sound and light show. Learning about the preparations for D-Day and the crossing experience, you will then visit the first of our landing sites, Sword Beach, located nine miles to the north east of one of the main objectives of D-Day – the city of Caen, by the end of the day over 29,000 men had landed here. From here we go to Gold Beach, learning about what happened in this area, this is where CSM Stanley Hollis was awarded the Victoria Cross, the only one awarded on D-Day. Arromanches is a pretty French Town and was the site chosen for one of the two artificial harbours which were constructed following D-Day. A magnificent engineering achievement, the remains can still be seen lying on the beach and out to sea. Whilst here you will head up to the cliffs above the town to see the new film show at the Arromanches 360 Cinema. Then it’s back to the hostel for dinner.

This morning we head to Bayeux, where we will visit the Bayeux Tapestry which tells the epic story on cloth, of William, Duke or Normandy who became King of England in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings. "We, once conquered by William, have now set free the Conqueror's native land." Bayeux CWGC Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth Cemetery of the Second World War in France and it seems a fitting point to end your tour. You will visit some of the graves of the soldiers that you have heard about during the tour and take time to reflect, before paying your final respects. Following free time in the pretty town of Bayeux, we make our way to Falaise, birthplace of William the Conqueror, the future King of England for a guided tour of the castle.

This morning we head to Honfleur, a beautiful French fishing port where we will enjoy some free time exploring before we begin the journey home.