The D-Day beaches

Arromanches

The seaside town of Arromanches was designated as Gold Beach by the Allies during the invasion. Remnants remain of the artificial harbor code named Mullberrys that the Allies built to facilitate the massive flow of supplies for the invading army.

Longues-Sur-Mer

German gun batteries at Longues-Sur-Mer: A spectacularly preserved example of the massive firepower the Allies faced in storming the Normandy beaches, these four German 152mm gun batteries are situated on the coast in the midst of a working French farm field. Finally knocked out by Allied warships following a daylong artillery duel, three of the guns remain in their massive concrete bunkers.

Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach, over 4 miles long, was the codename for one of the principal landing points of the Allied invasion. There were over 3,000 casualties suffered by American troops who landed here on D-Day. The high cliffs and strong German defences made this a formidable objective. Despite heavy losses, by the end of June 6th, over 30,000 soldiers of the US 1st and 29th Divisions, and the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions, had gained a foothold at Omaha.

The Pointe du Hoc

Strategically located between American landing beaches Omaha and Utah, La Pointe du Hoc remains virtually unchanged from when American Army Rangers scaled its sheer cliffs under deadly fire to knock out huge coastal guns they didn't know had been moved. Pocked by huge craters left by naval bombardment, most of the German bunkers remain. The cliff-side battlefield also offers a scenic view of the French coastline that saw some of the war's fiercest fighting.