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Things to do in Sainte-Mère-Église

Our most recommended things to do in Sainte-Mère-Église

Bayeux: American D-Day Sites in Normandy Full-Day Tour

1. Bayeux: American D-Day Sites in Normandy Full-Day Tour

Meet your guide at Place de Québec and then begin your D-Day exploration adventure, retracing history as you uncover the day of June 6, 1944. The first stop is at the village of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, the heart of the jump zone for the 82nd Airborne U.S. forces. Listen to stories of how paratroopers rained on the village, and how one of them famously got caught in the tower of the church. Visit Utah beach, the second location where American troops landed on D-Day. Pay a visit to the Utah Beach Museum and learn more about the fascinating history. Then, continue to Pointe du Hoc, a breathtaking cliff offering lunar landscapes and a magnificent viewpoint over the English Channel.  The site was built as a key point of the Atlantic Wall by the Germans because it was the highest point between the Omaha and Utah beaches and provided a great observation spot to notice any arrivals from the sea. Head to Omaha beach, where the deadliest landings of the day took place. From your guide, learn about the landings here and the soldiers who risked their lives. Your D-Day sightseeing tour of Normandy ends with a visit to the US military cemetery where you will have the chance to pay your respects and honor the soldiers of World War ll. 

Normandy: D-Day Beaches Private Tour from Le Havre

2. Normandy: D-Day Beaches Private Tour from Le Havre

In this full-day tour from Le Havre port -town you will be picked up and dropped off at your convenient time with fresh coffee and croissants. You'll spend a full-day on the Normandy WWII sites. First, you'll be in Ste Mère Eglise, the iconic village of the US Airborne, to understand how 14000 paratroopers played a crucial role in preparing the success of this day. You'll visit the Airborne Museum where your guide will explain you in the utmost details the exhibit. Then, you'll head for the hedgerow country where you'll see these terribles natural fences where so many German soldiers could hide and kill during the battle of Normandy. On Utah beach, your guide will explain you why this beach could be so quickly and successfully taken. You'll then enjoy a gourmet lunch on Omaha Beach facing the monument to the Allies, where your guide will explain you in details the battle which took place there 77 years ago. After lunch you'll head for the Pointe du Hoc where you'll see many of the German WWII bunkers taken by the US 2nd Rangers Battalion. Finally, at the Normandy American Cemetery, you'll have to time to visit the site and the Memorial before attending the ceremony of the colors. If time allows you'll also see the Longues sur Mer battery, the last WWII German battery, whose big 150mm guns where shooting on D-Day. You'll be back at your pier at the time that fits your ship's schedule. ( the itinerary will be adapted to your timing of course )

From Bayeux: D-Day American Beaches and US Airborne Day Tour

3. From Bayeux: D-Day American Beaches and US Airborne Day Tour

You will start the day at Omaha Beach where the 1st and 29th US infantry divisions landed. Our guides, with the help of maps and pictures, will explain to you all the details of “bloody Omaha”. From the layout of the German defenses to the plight of the first waves, we will share with you the stories of these brave GI’s who conquered the beach. Your guide will show you the American Cemetery behind Omaha beach. the resting place of more than 9,000 American servicemen and women. This sacred place, run by the American Battle Monuments Commission, is the most visited D-Day site in Normandy. You will discover the unique site of Pointe du Hoc. Follow the footsteps of the 2nd US Ranger Battalion led by the famous Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder who scaled the cliffs to destroy a German gun battery threatening the whole US landing operation. Bomb craters, bunkers, dugouts, come and see this outstanding battlefield. In the heart of the Airborne operation, you will visit the small town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise. It was the first town to be captured by the American paratroopers. One of them got stuck up on the church tower during that night. Your guide will share with you the details of this crucial operation and many stories of these brave men. The visit of the Airborne Museum in Sainte Mere Eglise is included in the tour, this museum is extremely well done and will provide you a great experience. At Utah Beach your guide will tell you how the 4th Infantry Division successfully breached the German defenses. The first wave was led by Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr who landed on that Beach at 6:30am. He was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor. Your guide will bring you to the church of Angoville-au-Plain. This site was used as an aid-station. Two young medics treated about 80 wounded soldiers for two days. Discover their heroic feat, a moving story about humanity and dedication on the battlefield. The best way to get an overview of the American involvement on D-Day with plenty of details given by our experienced guides.

From Rouen: Normandy D-Day Beaches Private Full-Day Tour

4. From Rouen: Normandy D-Day Beaches Private Full-Day Tour

Visit the beaches of Normandy that keep the memory of fallen heroes alive. Depart on a full-day tour from the port town of Rouen. Learn about the events that took place in Normandy, from the D-Day landings to the Battle of Normandy, from an expert guide. Make your first stop at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the village of the US Airborne Division. Understand how 14000 paratroopers played a crucial role in the town's liberation. The site still bears traces of the Battle of Normandy. Visit the Airborne Museum where your guide will explain the details of the exhibit. Then, head for the hedgerows to see the natural fences where many German soldiers hid to accomplish their mission. Next, see one of the two American landing zones in Normandy, Utah Beach. Learn how this beach was so quickly and successfully taken on D-Day of the invasion. Stop for a gourmet lunch on Omaha Beach facing the monument to the Allies. Listen to the details of the deadly 1944 battle which took place at this spot. After lunch, head to the Pointe du Hoc. See the many German bunkers and machine-gun posts that were taken by the US 2nd Rangers Battalion. Finally, visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, honoring American troops who died in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. Attend the ceremony of the colors to remember those who lost their lives while bringing World War II to an end. If time allows, you'll also see the Longues-sur-Mer battery, the last WWII German artillery battery, whose 150-mm guns were operational on D-Day. Benefit from round-trip hotel transfers at a time that's convenient for you. Enjoy refreshments like fresh coffee and croissants. You'll be dropped back at your pier-hotel at the end of the tour. The itinerary will be adapted to fit your schedule.

Normandy: D-Day Beaches Private Tour from Paris

5. Normandy: D-Day Beaches Private Tour from Paris

Start your day with some coffee and croissants and a visit to Pegasus Bridge, the first village and house liberated on D-Day. Then continue onto Juno Beach to learn all about how 12,000 Canadians achieved to take this area in just a few hours during WWII. Next, at Arromanches, discover the scale and the numbers of the Normandy Campaign with actual footage from the battle. Take a break with a gourmet lunch on Omaha Beach facing the monument to the Allies, where your guide will explain in detail how the battle which took place there 77 years ago unfolded. After lunch, head to the Pointe du Hoc where you can see many of the German WWII bunkers taken by the US Second Rangers Battalion. Finally, visit the Normandy American Cemetery and memorial before attending the ceremony of the colors.

Normandy D-Day beaches private tour US sector from Bayeux

6. Normandy D-Day beaches private tour US sector from Bayeux

Pay tribute to those young men that gave their lives on D-Day and ensure that their story is passed on from present to future generations with this day trip from Bayeux or Caen. See Omaha Beach, the American cemetery, and the bombardment craters at Pointe du Hoc.   Be picked up at your location in Bayeux or Caen and ride in an air-conditioned van. Cover topics about D-Day like the ground, naval, airborne forces. Hear about the artificial ports, the decoy plan called Fortitude, French life under German occupation, the French resistance, and the Atlantic wall. Stop first at Omaha Beach and see the American cemetery where 10,000 American soldiers are buried or marked as missing in action. Have the opportunity to visit a strongpoint that is part of the Atlantic wall. Head to Pointe du Hoc, the only place where huge craters are still visible due to naval and aerial bombardments. View the spot where 225 rangers bravely climbed up the 100 feet cliffs. It is a good site for a good comprehension of the German defenses.  Buy lunch at the Roosevelt café, which was built on a bunker and is now a meeting place for veterans. Visit a private bunker that is not open to the public. Travel from Utah Beach to Sainte-Mère-l'Eglise and pass through the hedgerows. Arrive in a small village that was made famous by the movie 'The Longest Day.' View the church tower where a paratrooper, John Steele of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, landed. Discover two amazing stained glass windows inside the church that were created to commemorate the liberation of the city by the 82nd Airborne Division on June 6, 1944. Return to your starting point in Bayeux or Caen at the end of your tour. 

Bayeux: Band Of Brothers Full-Day Tour

7. Bayeux: Band Of Brothers Full-Day Tour

This is your chance to discover the sites where these soldiers were fighting during their campaign in Normandy and learn many details about the protagonists and their actions. You will start the day at Omaha Beach where the 1st and 29th US infantry divisions landed. Our guides, with the help of maps and pictures, will explain to you all the details of “bloody Omaha”. From the layout of the German defenses to the plight of the first waves, we will share with you the stories of these brave GI’s who conquered the beach. Your guide will show you the American Cemetery behind Omaha beach. the resting place of more than 9,000 American servicemen and women. This sacred place, run by the American Battle Monuments Commission, is the most visited D-Day site in Normandy. You will discover the unique site of Pointe du Hoc. Follow the footsteps of the 2nd US Ranger Battalion led by the famous Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder who scaled the cliffs to destroy a German gun battery threatening the whole US landing operation. Bomb craters, bunkers, dugouts, come and see this outstanding battlefield. In the heart of the Airborne operation, you will visit the small town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise. It was the first town to be liberated by the American paratroopers. One of them got stuck up on the church tower during that night. Your guide will share with you the details of this crucial operation and many stories of these brave men. After lunch you will follow Easy Company led by Richard “Dick” Winters. You will learn in detail D-day plans concerning the different regiments of the 101st airborne division for their very first actions during WWII. Discover Marmion’s farm and stand where the first newsreel pictures of the invasion were taken. Men from Easy Company stayed there for a while. The battle of Brecourt Farm is the most famous action seen in the second episode of the TV show. The group took out four guns firing at Utah Beach. From the Easy company monument your guide will tell you everything about this exceptional battle. The tour will end at Carentan. The town was a strategic crossroad that Easy Company captured. See the road used by these men in the third episode of the show “Band of Brothers”

Normandy: D-Day Beaches Private Tour from Caen or Bayeux

8. Normandy: D-Day Beaches Private Tour from Caen or Bayeux

Spend the day getting to know the Normandy WWII sites on a private guided tour from Caen or Bayeux. Visit Ste Mère Eglise, the hedgerow country, Utah Beach, the Airborne Museum, and the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. Enjoy included snacks and a stop for lunch. Your tour starts in the morning, with pickup directly from your accommodation in Caen or Bayeux. Prepare for the day with a fresh coffee and croissants before heading to the first Normandy WWII site on the itinerary. During the ride, benefit from the on-board audio system to hear your guide in the van. There will be digital resources provided during your ride so you can get some content about the places visited throughout the day. First, arrive at Ste Mère Eglise, the iconic village of the US Airborne, to understand how 14000 paratroopers played a crucial role in preparing for the success of D-Day. Visit the Airborne Museum (entry ticket included), where your guide will the exhibit to you. Then, head for the hedgerow country where you'll see the natural fences where so many German soldiers hid during the Battle of Normandy. On Utah Beach, your guide will explain why this beach could be so quickly and successfully taken. You'll then get to recharge with a gourmet lunch on Omaha Beach facing the monument to the Allies, The Braves (lunch costs not included). Learn the details of the battle that took place here 77 years ago. After lunch, you'll head for the Pointe du Hoc where you'll see many of the German WWII bunkers taken by the U.S. 2nd Rangers Battalion. Finally, at the Normandy American Cemetery, you'll have time to visit the site and the memorial before attending the Casing of the Colors ceremony. If time allows, see the Longues-sur-Mer battery, the last WWII German battery, whose 150-mm guns were shooting on D-Day. By the end of the tour, you’ll have made your way round-trip back to your accommodation.  

From Cherbourg: Normandy D-Day Beaches Private Tour

9. From Cherbourg: Normandy D-Day Beaches Private Tour

In this full-day tour from Cherbourg ( pier or hotel ) you will be picked up at your convenient time with fresh coffee and croissants and you'll spend a full-day on the Normandy WWII sites. First, you'll be in Ste Mère Eglise, the iconic village of the US Airborne, to understand how 14000 paratroopers played a crucial role in preparing the success of this day. You'll visit the Airborne Museum where your guide will explain you in the utmost details the exhibit. Then, you'll head for the hedgerow country where you'll see these terribles natural fences where so many German soldiers could hide and kill during the battle of Normandy. On Utah beach, your guide will explain you why this beach could be so quickly and successfully taken. You'll then enjoy a gourmet lunch on Omaha Beach facing the monument to the Allies, where your guide will explain you in details the battle which took place there 77 years ago. After lunch you'll head for the Pointe du Hoc where you'll see many of the German WWII bunkers taken by the US 2nd Rangers Battalion. Finally, at the Normandy American Cemetery, you'll have to time to visit the site and the Memorial before attending the ceremony of the colors. If time allows you'll also see the Longues sur Mer battery, the last WWII German battery, whose big 150mm guns where shooting on D-Day. You'll be back at your ship at the time you need depending of your ship's schedule.

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What people are saying about Sainte-Mère-Église

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 70 reviews

The car was very comfortable, Steven was a safe and courteous driver, lots of historical information and clearly voiced. We learned so much. Completely fascinating. The museum at Omaha beach needed a bit more time. We got caught up in putting relatives names in the database looking for gravesites. And missed the film in the basement

Great tour. You spend more time at monuments than on the road which is nice, however in January, many of the sites are closed. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. Wish we had more time for the museums that were open and that there was a souvenir stop available.

Our guide, Steve, was very knowledgeable about the D-Day landings and the area. The day was well planned with free time at each location and lunch time as at an excellent restaurant we never would have found on our own. We were very glad we booked this tour.

Steven was an excellent guide. Any questions we dreamed up he had the knowledge to answer them. What an experience, and what a wonderful day.

Steven was an excellent and knowledgeable guide and our group size of 5 was perfect. Definitely enjoyed the day.