My wife have rented a car and will be going from Caen to Mont St Michel to spend the day /evening and then back to Caen the next day before leaving on the evening ferry to Portsmouth. We would like to tour the Normandy Beaches and museums.I know there are guidebooks that cover that area and was wondering if anyone has any recomendations? I was also wondering if there is a good audio guide that we could play on the CD or iPod while driving in the car. Thanks
Posted by
Redding, CA, USA
1568 posts
Sorry to tell you....you will see and experience very little from your car window. Too bad you don't have more time. The museums are awesome, must walk on the beaches and visit the Cemetery at Normandy. Do try to allot more time for the D-Day landing areas. You will not regret it.
Posted by
OP
Santa Rosa, California, USA
23 posts
Hello JB: We do plan to stop at the beaches and possibley one or two museums. We just wanted to see the sights at our own pace. I realize a day is not enough but we have one full day and don't need to be at the ferry port near Caen untll 10:00 PM. Thanks for your help!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Bill: Can you clarify a couple of things, so we can help. You say "then back to Caen," about what time do you think you'll be back in the Caen area, after leaving Mont St Michel? And is your plan to go back to the Caen area first, and then to the beaches? And which beaches are you particularly interested in?
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9420 posts
The only thing I can offer is that it's very easy to tour the area on your own, we've done it many times...In addition to Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery, I'd recommend the town of St. Mere Eglise, and the WWII museum in Bayeux...We did not like the museum in Caen - too crowded and confusing in our opinion...There's more to see but you don't have time for everything...We used Rick's guide...We really enjoyed driving the smaller two lane roads wherever possible.
Posted by
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
1446 posts
We took the one day Battlebus tour of the beaches which was wonderful; however, the next day we drove to Arromanche (hope I'm spelling it right) and went through the museum there. That was a great stop, and the museum plus their films explained that particular beach quite well. (We drove there from Bayeux, and it was a beautiful drive along very quiet roads.)
Posted by
Huntington, WV
160 posts
So much to see...so little time. Keep it simple and you won't feel stressed and you won't feel rushed. Excellent previous recommendations. I would add that after you leave Arromanches and head west along the coastal road, be sure to take in the German Battery at Longues-sur-mer...sadly ignored by most D-Day tourists. Featured in the movie "The Longest Day," it's quite impressive. From there continue to the American Cemetery and then down to Bayeaux to my favorite D-Day museum. If by some miracle you still have time, check out the Bayeaux Tapestry. Enjoy your evening at Mt St Michel, eat at La Mer Poulard if your budget permits, and take in the abbey the next morning before all the buses arrive. That gives you plenty of time to get back to Caen and take in some cider/calvados tasting along the way. Rudy Maxa's video on Normandy is an excellent compliment to Rick's and Samantha Brown's.