My hubby and I are planning to arrive at CDG at 9:45AM, take the trains to Bayeux, then a taxi or bus to Courseilles Sur Mer where we plan to stay three nights at La Cremeraille Le Gytan. We want to walk to the Canadian Cemetery on the first day, then tour the Juno Museum the next. Then head up to Calais to take the ferry to England. Has anyone done something like this, will it work?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32322 posts
Trudy, I'd have to spend some time working on the details, but I'm not sure that all of your plan will be easy to accomplish. For example...... > You probably won't arrive at your Hotel until late afternoon, so may not have much time for touring on your arrival day. You'll first have to get from CDG to Gare St. Lazare and then transfer to the train to Bayeux. From the airport, you'll change trains at Gare du Nord, and then use RER to reach Hausmann St. Lazare or you can travel via Metro. > I don't know if there are any Buses from Bayeux to Courseulles sur Mer, but a Taxi will take about half an hour (and won't be cheap). > The Canadian Cemetery at Beny sur Mer is about 5 miles or so from Courseulles sur Mer, so it's going to be a LONG walk there and back. You might be better to rent a car for the day or take a Taxi (pre-arrange a pickup time). I've rented in Bayeux in the past. > As I recall, Juno Beach Centre is right in Courseulles sur Mer, so that should be an easy walk. > I have no idea on the transportation from Courseulles sur Mer to Calais. Hopefully one of the others can answer that. Depending on your level of interest, you could also take one of the excellent D-Day tours offered in that area (many leave from Bayeux, but pickup location may be negotiable). IMO, the tours provide the most interesting and rewarding look at the history. If you need information on some of the tour firms in that area, post another note. Happy travels!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33464 posts
Train back to Paris, across to the Gare du Nord for the Eurostar straight to London is the easiest and fastest. There is not an easy train along the coast from Bayeux to Calais. In fact, any combination trying to do that and bypass Paris will be exceedingly convoluted and difficult. I remember a similar question to this several months ago and I believe that the poster there wound up having to go through Paris despite her strong desire to avoid that. If you really want to go on the ferry from Calais you have been warned of the difficulty, and you will have to get from the train to the ferry and from the ferry at Dover to the English train. Only one of the Calais - Dover ferry companies accepts foot passengers, P&O.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4085 posts
From my perspective, the Juno Beach Centre attempts to be a monument to Canadian military history, not just D-Day. It is a private institution rather than a government operation and it favours the modern mixed-media format with what, to my eyes, are shallow results. It's worth a look, if only to make up your own mind. Budget one to two hours. Taking a day-long guided tour oriented to Canadian or Commonwealth efforts in Normandy can provide far more information than you are likely to glean on your own. That's especially true if the route includes the difficult and vital tank battles in the Caen vicinity.
Brittany Ferries run from Le Havre to Portsmouth and accept foot passengers.http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/home You can connect by rail from Bayeux/Caen at one end and to London at the other.
Posted by
Truro, NS, Canada
3941 posts
Have you thought of renting a car? We were very nervous about it, but got one on our way out of Paris to go up to North France, and we would do it again in a heartbeat. The car rental was only a couple hundred dollars(less, like $180), I think we put maybe 40euro gas to fill up car. For us, compared to the train tix and what we wanted to do, it made more sense and cost less (we went to Mont St Michel, and I wanted to see it at night, not possible with public transport, and the train/bus tix for 2 was putting it above what the car rental cost) We stayed just outside Caen in a little village called Amblie which was only a 10 min-ish drive to Courseilles/Juno Beach Center, which we actually enjoyed...(well, hubby more then me, but I found it interesting watching some of the interviews and TV footage). With a car, you could visit some of the other dday beaches...our host in Amblie actually drove us to Gold Beach and Benys-Sur-Mer, as well as showing us some other spots... Also, have you thought of taking the ferry from Caen (actually Ouistreham...forgive my spelling) to Portsmouth? Saves trip to Calais - but you still have to go from Ports-London of course if that is your final destination...
Posted by
Truro, NS, Canada
3941 posts
I should mention our car rental was going to be for 2 days, but there was a 3 day minimum, so we actually kept it for 2 1/2...still a better deal then public transport...