D-Day Beach Area Base City

Can't speak to Caen as a base, but we loved Bayeux. Spent four great nights at the Churchill Hotel. Toured three memorable and remarkable days with Paul Woodadge, DDay Historian, formerly Battlebus. Lovely town to explore and stroll, see the magnificent cathedral and famous tapestry. We decided on Bayeux because of all the recommendations here on the helpline. Easy train from Paris.

Mark,

I am also spending three day touring the DDay beaches. I am using the Churchill Hotel in Bayeux as a base. Bayeux seems more central to where I want to go. When are you going?

I would recommend Bayeux as a base and definitely recommend it over Caen. Bayeux is a small, charming, very walkable, pretty, wonderful town. Caen is not. It is a large, not charming city.
We love Hotel d'Argouges, in Bayeux, where we have stayed at least 6 times.
I also recommend the WWII museum in Bayeux... it's the best one imo. We did not enjoy the one in Caen.... too expensive, too crowded and too confusing.

Rent your car in Caen and stay in Bayeux. There are four rental agencies in Caen across the street from the train station--Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Sixt. Caen was devastated by Allied bombers--don't stay there unless you like grim, post-war architecture.

Has anyone stayed at smaller B&B's in the area? I've contacted several and they seem to have my dates available in early July.

There is little purpose in my repeating what is already posted here ,but I am in agreement with everyone else ( particularly Susan ) about Bayeux . We loved it for all the above mentioned reasons , but given that you will have a car to explore on your own ( which is how we traveled in Normandy ) , take a look in and around Arromanches . It is about six miles from Bayeux and on the D514 coast road where you will likely begin your exploration of the DDay sites . There are any number of B and B's and small hotels in the area , and Arromanches itself is absolutely charming . It calls to mind the small " plage sur mer " depicted in the film " Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot " by Jacques Tati . The village evokes bittersweet emotions due to its past . Posted on the exterior of the Musee du Debarquement in the the center of the village is a poem that ends " See these children laughing and playing in the sea . Today's sun dries yesterday's tears "

mark,

staying will depend on what you want or like in the places you stay.

Bayeux. Its a cute/quite town. WWII didnt touch it much from what i understand.

Caen. On the other hand got the snot bombed out of it and it shows.

take you pick.

Happy trails.

Based on my own driving visit to the area for D-day and D-day+ actions I would choose Bayeux. Bayeux is a "town" and "Caen" is a city. Get car in Caen. Hotel/B&B in/around Bayeux. Everything D-day is quicker by car from Bayeux including British beach areas. PLANNING IS THE KEY. Trips are expensive so get the most out of your effort. I have done Normandy. I have done Verdun/Ypres/Somme.I have done the Bulge/Waterloo including sites and their attendant museums etc. I knew what roads I was taking before I left the U.S. I knew musum closed days etc. My Garmin with France/Belgium card was essential and worth its' weight in gold so to speak.(if you rent a car with GPS make sure beforehand that the instructions are going to be with the car) I would also advise arrangements for diesel. Doing the research/planning as a project can be a big plus for your trip as you learn all kinds of things which may change your itinerary from what you thought initially.There is a website (unfortunately I dropped it from my favorites) that will give you driving routes/times between points in France which enables you to consider B&Bs along your route rather than backtracking to Bayeux every evening. GPS co-ords are very valuable if you have them. I was out on the road at first light to see the site or near the head of the line to get in depending on where I was going. I ate cheap. Coffee/pastry breakfast, sit-down 3 or 4 course specials at business peoples eating places for lunch,usually 10 to 15 Euro,(get your protein and fruit/veggies to avoid bowel problems on road) and bread,small sausage,pickles,onion,cheese from the deli equivalent in the evening. Not having to return "home" every evening expands the range of places you can see and I have not found a bad B&B yet.(I know they are out there but I have been lucky plus planning pays off!) You might add Oradour-sur-Glane to your list if it isn't on it. Even with planning you must stay adaptable and I always had a plan B if a road was closed etc..I envy you your trip Mark,make sure you enjoy it.

Mark,

I definitely agree with the others and I'd also recommend staying in Bayeux. It's a wonderful smaller town and somewhat central to the sights. While there you could tour the excellent WW-2 museum, take the short drive to the Gun batteries at Longues sur Mer and of course see the famous Tapestry that describes a much earlier battle.

Although you stated that you'd be touring on your own, I'd recommend at least considering one of the excellent local tours (even a half day version) as you'll learn far more about the history.

Happy travels!

John may be thinking of the Via Michelin website for routes and travel times. Regular users recommend doubling the time estimates. GPS helps a lot. If you have one, you can buy a Europe map and bring it along.

I agree with everyone that Bayeux is a better base than Caen, there's a lot more to see and do there. I haven't been to the WWII museum in Bayeux, and usually I agree with everything Susan says. But, having said that, I would strongly recommend the WWII museum in Caen, officially the "Memorial de Caen." She's right, it's big and expensive, but imho well worth the cost and half a day. You learn a great deal about the war (in Europe). I was blown away to hear the recording of the French generals, about to surrender, discussing the logistics. The museum also has a Cold War section which can be nostalgic (sort of) but isn't nearly as well done. Easy to reach, just inside the ring road north of the city. Sorry Susan, you can't be right about everything!

WE stayed at a B&B just outside Villiers-Bocage, about 10 miles east of Bayeux. Go to www.bandbnormandie.com. It's so handy and a real delight to stay on the 400 year old working farm, La Ferme du Pressoir. Odile, Jacques and their sons are delightful and the rooms are quite modern. Odile's breakfast are to die for. We drove out daily to the beaches, about 20 miles, Avranches, Mont St. Michel, about 90 minutes via motorway, and Cancale, around the bay in Brittany from MSM, for a seafood lunch. Bayeux is delightful as well with much to see and do but we prefer B&B's over hotels. Villiers-Bocage is a great little place to shop, do some ATM withdrawals, and by all means eat in the local restaurants. Not many speak English so learning a few basic phrases in French will help out. We were treated royally in the backwater towns in Normandy since they are eternally grateful that the Americans saved them from the Nazis. Just an FYI-- the fiercest tank battle between the Germans and the British took place in and around Villiers-Bocage with the Germans decimating the Brits and slowing the entire allied advance for weeks.