The department of La Manche, like all of Normandy, experienced the events of the end of World War II up close. The landings by sea and air on 6 June 1944 marked the beginning of the Battle of Normandy.
Today, numerous places of remembrance pay tribute to the soldiers who fought for freedom: museums, batteries, cemeteries, beaches, towns, and so on. Sainte-Mère-Église, Utah Beach, Azeville, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and Carentan are among the many places marked by the memory of the Battle of Normandy. Visiting these sites offers groups of adults and schoolchildren the opportunity to reflect, to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the time and to imagine life under the occupation.
Every year in June, a large celebration also takes place in the Cotentin to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day and the liberation by the Allies.
Life under the occupation
Museums for remembrance
Occupied from 1940 onwards, La Manche was liberated by the Allies during the summer of 1944. This period was devastating for the people living there. Today, their stories are told in museums or by fascinating tour guides. The German occupation, as well as the Resistance, are illustrated through historical artefacts, reconstructions of street and everyday scenes, weapons, testimonies and more.
A visit to the Azeville and Crisbecq batteries is the opportunity to discover these elements of the Atlantic Wall, which were equipped with infirmaries, dormitories, kitchens and more.
This site offers an original scenography, including the reconstruction of a 1940s street complete with shops and the sounds of the era. Over 1 000m², groups can explore the daily lives of inhabitants under the occupation, with numerous everyday objects and vehicles on display. Temporary exhibitions highlight various aspects of World War II. This museum is a must-see to be included in tours and trips organised for your groups (adults and schoolchildren).
D-Day in Normandy took place on 6 June 1944. The primary mission, besides liberating France, was to capture Carentan in order to unite the front between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach (Calvados), but also to liberate the deep-water port of Cherbourg. It took harsh fighting to achieve these objectives.
Today, numerous tourist sites, suited to group visits, bear witness to these events of World War II:
The Musée du Débarquement at Utah Beach, the very site of the landings. This visit sheds light on why this beach was chosen and what made it a military and technological success.
The Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église, situated in the church square where paratrooper John Steele was famously caught on the church steeple for hours on 6 June 1944. This site presents the US paratroopers prior to their journey to Normandy: briefing rooms, planes, etc.
The D-Day Experience in Saint-Côme-du-Mont offers an interactive journey tracing the footsteps of the paratroopers and an immersion into the German perspective with the Dead Man’s Corner museum.
Every year, the territory celebrates victory and commemorates the D-Day military operation of 1944: reenactment camps, parachute drops, ceremonies, dances, military demonstrations and much more.
These commemorations bring together thousands of people, both soldiers and civilians, from the nations involved in the D-Day landings.
As a witness to one of the most pivotal chapters in contemporary history, the territory has been dedicated to preserving the collective memory since 1945. To keep public interest alive, innovative tourism providers are offering more interactive experiences:
Jeep Tours that include visits to lesser-known sites in an authentic WWII Willys jeep, complete with anecdotes from paratroopers.
A 1944-themed Escape Game that challenges participants to complete various missions, such as landing a glider or stepping into the shoes of a resistance fighter.
A boat trip that enables visitors to view the coastline as the soldiers first saw it when they landed on the beach on 6 June 6 1944.
