NORMANDY 

Normandy battle - Ouistreham

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Take the D 514 from Caen to OUISTREHAM. There is the famous Cote de Nacre, bristling since half a century with an absorbing legacy of fortifications, memorials, museums and military cemeteries, that stand at ease between beach hotels and gold courses of what has become a popular summer holiday destination, graced by fine stretches of sand, breezy cliffs and postcard-picturesque fishing harbours. Casinos and multiple water sports activities with open doors to England. The Brits come here very often but during WWII the landing was much less comfortable........
OUISTREHAM is today a cross-Channel ferry port (regular connections by ferry with Portsmouth) since 1986, with new hotels, super markets, roads, popped up around the Orne estuary.
MUSEUM DU "MUR DE L'ATLANTIQUE" is located in a large bunker, avenue du 6 Juin tel 0231972869. Open from February 1 to November 15. An impressive blockhouse-tower that was used as a HQ for directing and aiming the artillery batteries of the Germans on 5 levels. . anti-gas filter hall, canon batteries control room and infirmary are on display as well as numerous souvenirs about the daily life of the soldiers). In the radio room, have a look how the Allies liberated Ouistreham.  On the last floor, an observation post with its giant telemeter. Imagine the striking shock chock the Germans must have had, when they saw appearing suddenly thousands of Allied ships!
THE COMMANDO NO.4 MUSEUM is located place Alfred Thomas, facing the casino tel 0231966310. Open June to mid September. The no.4 commando was formed by several international troops, of which 177 soldiers from commander Kieffer, only French combatants having participated in the "first attack wave" of the Landing. Arms, uniforms, souvenirs on display.
Centre town is on place Lemarignier.  The church SAINT-SAMSON is worth a visit. It is a large and beautiful 12th century Norman style edifice, Remarkable facade for its long line of pillars.
If you plan to stay in or around Ouistreham here are a few things you might do:
A groovy promenade along the canal de l'Orne (depart from the port) until Caen, 9 miles away. By foot or bicycle along a so–called "towing-path",
trying out your luck at the casino on main beach tel 0231363000, or riding horses and ponies at the club "l'Etrier" on the beach tel 0231966951. Open whole year.
And if you’re the sailor’s type, you can do that behind the beacon tel 0231970025.

Ouistreham

Arromanches artificial port

 Bayeux war memorials

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Pointe du Hoc
     
 
Utah Beach