Arromanches & Mulberry harbour. Copyright Gretta Schifano
I went to Normandy to see what’s on offer there for families – and I’m impressed. Normandy’s on the North coast of France and is easy to reach by ferry from England. Its beautiful sandy beaches and rolling green countryside make it a great family destination and the historical sites (particularly relating to D-Day) add another dimension, especially with so many of our children studying WWII at school.
The D-Day landings in Normandy marked the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe. On the morning of June 6th, 1944, tens of thousands of Allied soldiers landed on five beaches and attacked the occupying German forces in one of the most important turning points of the war.
Here are some of the best D-Day sites for families with children.
Juno Beach Centre
If you only have time to visit one D-Day site with your children I think this Canadian interpretation centre is it. The Juno Beach Centre is right next to the beautiful beach where Canadian and British forces landed in Courseulles-sur-Mer. It’s an engaging and thoughtful place to visit for families and I found the film In Their Footsteps the most moving and meaningful of the various films I saw on my trip.
Arromanches
Arromanches is a pretty seaside town where the concrete remains of the prefabricated Mulberry harbour used in the landings can still be seen from the sandy beach. On a hill above the beach the Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema shows a short film called Normandy’s 100 Days featuring original footage of the Battle of Normandy. The film is shown on nine screens surrounding the audience with different images projected simultaneously – it’s impossible to watch all of them so just go for an overall impression.
Pegasus Bridge Memorial
The Pegasus Bridge Memorial tells the incredible story of the British soldiers who arrived in wooden gliders during the night before the beach landings in order to secure strategic points such as the Pegasus Bridge. There’s plenty of space to run around and you can walk across the actual bridge captured that night and see a replica of a Horsa glider.
Replica glider, Pegasus Bridge Memorial. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Willy’s Jeep Tour
Willy’s Jeep Tour offers re-enactments of what happened on the night of June 5th 1944 when parachutists landed in the countryside around the Holdy Battery and fought to defeat the Germans. The re-enactments are at night time with fake weapons and ammunition and it feels like you’re actually in the 1944 battle. Owner Jean assures me that children as young as six have taken part and loved the experience – I found it great fun but a bit scary and I’m not sure that all six-year olds would be keen to take part!
Open Sky Museum
The name’s confusing but bear with me. Open Sky Museum is a scheme where you can hire a hand-held GPS device loaded with details of a 50km tour of D-Day landing sites around Sainte-Mère-Église and Utah Beach. I think kids would enjoy this as it’s packed with videos and quizzes for you as you stop en route. It costs 8 euros for 24 hours from the Sainte-Mère-Église tourist office.
Longues-sur-Mer Battery
The Longues-sur-Mer Battery is great for running around and it’s free to enter. The WWII German command post looks out to sea and each of its concrete bunkers still has a huge gun in place. You can go inside the bunkers and look out from behind the guns.
Looking down a gun barrel at Longues-sur-Mer Battery. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Azeville Battery
The Azeville Battery is in the countryside and gives a good idea of how the German soldiers lived here during the war. You can choose either adult or child audio guides and the commentary leads you around the tunnels and living quarters and brings the place alive.
British cemetery Bayeux
If you’d like to visit one of the war cemeteries, the Bayeux Cemetery is the largest WWII Commonwealth cemetery in France. It’s peaceful and beautifully kept and there’s a register with details of the graves in case you want to look anyone up.
Getting there
Brittany Ferries offers the fastest crossing to Normandy from England with a daily high-speed service between Portsmouth and Cherbourg which takes three hours. Fares for this crossing cost from £48 per person each way based on a family of four taking their car.
Where to stay
There are loads of great places for families to stay in Normandy and I’ve written a separate post with some recommendations.
For more information about Normandy go to the official website. Thank you to the Normandy Tourist Board and to Brittany Ferries for arranging my trip.
WE are family of 11 6 adults and 5 kids, We are visiting Normandy June 13/14
In our group 2 girls are teenagers and three boys are little from 6-10 yrs oif age.
Given the limited time….what would you recommend that would accommodate all the age groups.
Also, we are vegetarian so would love to get some options for vegetarian restaurants.
Hi, I’ve not been to Normandy recently, so it’s probably best to contact the official Normandy Tourist Board for up to date recommendations. On my last visit I stayed at Residence Le Chant des Oiseaux, Courseulles-sur-Mer, with Pierre et Vacances, and that was a good place for families.
Some great ideas here for experiences that put you right in there and show you what it was like. I love immersive experiences. And I really want to go on a Willy’s Jeep Tour!
Kirstie recently posted…One Cool Desert City. Seduced by Dubai.
My husband really wants to do this trip and you have inspired me to book it – there is so much to see
Kara recently posted…Butlin’s by the Sea
That’s great – I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
What a great place to visit. My uncle runs a battlefield tours business and regularly goes over with groups to show them this and other areas from WWII.
Kizzy recently posted…Word of the Week #WotW
This isn’t somewhere I have been before and I hadn’t realised there was so much to do there. What a lovely post
Clare @ Emmys Mummy recently posted…Saving money as a #Morrisonsmum?
wow there’s so much to do! It sounds so easy just to pop over too!
abigail recently posted…Windmill Hill city farm
They all sound like very interesting places. I’d like to go to the Juno beach centre and I know the husband would like to visit just about all those places.
Shell Louise recently posted…Finally!! – Before and After photos -New Kitchen 😀
I’d really like to visit here with the kids. It sounds genuinely fascinating.
I think you’d all love it.
This looks lovely and SO much to do!! We will be visiting Paris in August and my kids are SO excited!!!
Lucie Aiston recently posted…A Heartfelt Poem written by a Friend!
Arromanches is a really pretty seaside town with amazing beaches but I did find it haunting when I visited in the winter. So many walls bear the scars of bullets and you can see heavy machinery still buried in the sand when the tide goes out.
Kirsty recently posted…The Tiger Who Came to Tea Activity
I know what you mean, it’s the same all over the area but I found a feeling that life goes on while remembering and honouring what happened. The Juno Beach Centre really helped me make sense of it all as it emphasises the freedoms we enjoy today because of the sacrifices of the 1940s.
Oh would never have thought to go to Normandy but it looks like there is lots to do. Love that picture of the harbour!
Foz recently posted…Time to move to a toddler bed
We took our son to Normandy when he was younger – a very successful trip. This was pre-blogging so I can’t quite remember exactly what we did but it involved Bayeux, Thiepval and a visit to the Newfoundland Memorial Park.
This post has some great ideas of places to visit.
Trish – Mum’s Gone To recently posted…Visit Scotland to create some Brilliant Moments
I’d love to go back and explore Bayeux and that side of Normandy, I really enjoyed the trip.
There’s quite a lot to see – I’d never really thought of Normandy before, but it looks interesting – and especially when the kids start to do history. Thanks for the tips!
LearnerMother recently posted…Why I need to follow the Daily Mail
You’re welcome!
I think this is definitely somewhere we’ll look to visit when the children are older. History was my favourite subject at school, and I think this would make it so real once the children start their learning. It’s great to see there are many options for young people.
Debbie recently posted…The Gallery: Faces of Siblings
Wow, there is a lot to do!
Nice that most of these places are free to enter
agatapokutycka recently posted…New Discoveries – Furminator by Ween
Looks like a fun packed time thats for sure .x
Hannah Staveley recently posted…Box Of Awesome & Box Of OMG Review
MY eldest is history mad and I’m sure she’d lvoe to go there
Polly recently posted…Gingerbread Raw Bars
So many places to visit and it looks so lovely too.
Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk) recently posted…Spicy Cauliflower Tempura.
I never realised there was so much to explore and do. My son would love this thanks . Great pictures x
wendy recently posted…World Of Autism
Looks like there is lots to do. I think my hubby would find this interesting x
You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…Magical Marwell
I have never really considered Normandy before but it looks like a really interesting location
Bex @ The Mummy Adventure recently posted…Little Explorers
I teach 7 year olds about WW2 and they are fascinated! I’ll definitely be taking my boys there when they are older, I had no idea that there was so much for them!
My hubby is desperate to go to Normady, think he will love this post xx
We love exploring sites with military connections and it looks like there’s plenty to see and do here!
Jenny recently posted…How to make a Jolly Jar
I love Normandy – we went on a school trip there and stayed on Omaha Beach. My children are a bit too young for this but I look forward to taking them one day.
Globalmouse recently posted…Pizza in Naples!
That glider looks SO impressive! There is such a lot to do there, I might try and get over with the children in the summer hols.
TwinsplusTwo recently posted…“Combat” or “Survival” Mode?
I find anything to do with war rather distressing, but the OH would quite like to visit Normandy. Once J is a bit older. Am pinning for future use.
VaiChin @Rambling Through Parenthood recently posted…Changing India
I was worried about visiting these sites because I thought it would be upsetting but I wanted to go as my grandfather was at D-Day. I’m really glad I went as I found it so interesting and it’s such a beautiful place.
This is something I’ve been thinking about doing for a while too. I think my big boys would love it.
Emma (My Little 3 and Me) recently posted…Boxes of Exciting News!
I didn’t realise there was so much for children to do in Normandy. I think my 3 year old would love exploring Longues -sur-Mer Battery. It is so important that our children learn about the Second World War. Very interesting.