D-Day Discovery: American sectors, A 12 hour tour for 1-4 people

Discover the Normandy landing beaches with our WWII expert. Rodolphe Rutman, who will accompany you, brings to life the events of the battle of Normandy, using his knowledge of the subject acquired over more than 30 years of private research. He has been connected to the events of June 6 1944, since he was involved in the 50th anniversary of D-Day, in 1994. That year, he assisted a group of 41 American veteran paratroopers who came to perform a commemorative jump near Sainte-mère-église. Afterwards, Rodolphe became a filmmaker specialising in history. He has directed 4 TV documentary films about D-Day which were broadcast internationally. This enabled him to interview more than 200 people who witnessed the events of summer 1944, including 13 American veterans who landed on Omaha Beach. Today, he lives in Normandy and likes to share his passion for this subject by leading visits to memorial sites. So be ready for an immersive and unforgettable exploration of the 1944 Battle of Normandy.

1. 1

   Sainte Mere Eglise

   45 min

   Visit to Sainte-mère-église square and it's church. The story of the tragic arrival of American paratroopers on the night 5th/6th of June 1944 will be told there.

2. 2

   Airborne Museum

   1.5 hours

   Visit to the Airborne museum, a very well furnished museum with a lot of interesting pictures, maps and military equipment giving an overview of the American airborne actions on D-Day. Entry fees: Adult: 11,50€, Children: 7,50€

3. 3

   Sainte-Mere-Eglise

   1 hour

   One hour can be spent in Sainte-mère-église square to do some shopping and to have lunch.

4. 4

   La Fiere Bridge and Iron Mike Monument

   35 min

   "La Fiere Bridge" was a site where American troops (mainly paratroopers) had a very hard fight against nazi forces from 6th to 9th of June 1944, causing more than 750 American casualties (wounded or killed) to keep this bridge in allied hands.

5. 5

   Utah Beach

   30 min

   Utah beach was one of the two landing beaches used by American troops on DDay. The units that arrived there will join the American paratroopers, who arrived inland during the night, to take control of the Cotentin peninsula roads and later Cherbourg harbor.

6. 6

   Pointe Du Hoc Memorial

   1 hour

   Visit to the seafront German artillery position at Pointe du Hoc, assaulted from the cliffs by American Ranger battaillons on the morning of D-Day.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   15 min

   Stop at the cliffs of Vierville-sur-mer, dominating Omaha beach. An opportunity to discover American military equipment displayed around the local museum, including American LCVP landing craft.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   1 hour

   Visit to the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-mer. This exceptional memorial site is located on Omaha beach battlefield. An opportunity to discover the D-Day events from a place that was at the center of the battle that day.

9. 9

   Stop 9

   1 hour

   Visit to the reinforced WN62 German position. Located on the cliffs of Colleville-sur-mer dominating Omaha beach, we will discover, with some German soldiers' testimonies, what D-Day was like seen from that side of the battle. On the same site we will visit the monument dedicated to the American 1st Infantry Division.

10. 10

    Stop 10

    10 min

    Visit to Saint-Laurent-sur-mer, to the first monument dedicated to the American troops who landed on Omaha beach, on the morning of June 6, 1944.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    15 min

    Visit to the site temporarily used as a cemetery for American soldiers killed on D-Day and in the following days.

12. 12

    Stop 12

    50 min

    Visit to the memorial monument dedicated to the landing troops from the American 29th Infantry Division who took part in the Omaha beach invasion, in the early hours of D-Day.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.