School Trips to Normandy D-Day Beaches

CURRICULUM FOCUS - History, French, English, Media Studies, Drama, Geography, Religious Studies - KS 2, 3 & 4

The Second World War is now a major part of the GCSE curriculum. The D-Day landings mark the critical turning point in the war when the Allies launched their invasion of Normandy which led to the liberation of France and Europe. The British landed at the Sword and Juno beaches while the Americans landed to the west of Arromanches at Omaha beach and met the greatest resistance. The vast American Cemetery at Omaha is a poignant reminder of the many lives that were lost. The remains of the famous Mulberry Harbours that enabled the Allies to unload men and materials are still visible near Arromanches. Not far inland is the pretty town of Bayeux, the first town liberated in Europe and home of the famous Bayeux Tapestry and the British cemetery.

Educational Resources

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Arromanches

The town of Arromanches lies on the stretch of coastline designated as Gold Beach during the D-Day landings , one of the beaches used by British troops in the Allied invasion. Arromanches was selected as one of the sites for two Mulberry Harbours built on the Normandy coast.

American Cemetery

The American cemetery is located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel. It is beautifully landscaped and covers 172 acres and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead. The cemetery featured at the beginning of the film 'Saving Private Ryan'.

Bayeux Cathedral

Bayeux Cathedral is a Romanesque cathedral, dating back to the time of William the Conqueror. The present cathedral was completed in 1077. It was here that William the Conqueror forced Harold to take the oath, the breaking of which led to the Norman conquest of England.

Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry is a 230 ft long embroidered tapestry which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England as well as the events of the invasion itself. The Bayeux Tapestry is annotated in Latin. It is exhibited in a special museum in Bayeux called the 'Musee de la tapisterrie'.

Caen Memorial Museum

Established in 1988 and dedicated to peace, the Caen Memorial (Le Mémorial de Caen, un musée pour la paix) is regarded as the best World War II museum in France. Located on the northern outskirts of Caen in Normandy, the Caen Memorial also includes guided tours to the D-Day beaches and exhibits on other failures and triumphs of peace, such as September 11th.

Longues Gun Battery

The Longues-sur-Mer battery was a World War II artillery battery constructed by the German Wehrmacht near the French village of Longues-sur-Mer. It formed part of Germany's Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications. The battery was completed in 1944 and still remains today more or less complete.

Pegasus Bridge Museum

Pegasus Bridge was a swing bridge that crossed the Caen Canal, near Ouistreham. It was a major objective of Operation Tonga in the opening minutes of D-Day. A gliderborne unit of the British 6th Airborne Division, commanded by Major John Howard was to land, take the bridges intact and hold them until relieved.

Pointe du Hoc

The Pointe du Hoc was the site of a German gun battery on the western end of the Omaha beach. On D-Day the US Ranger Assault Group was given the task of scaling the 100 foot cliffs to silence the 6 155mm guns before the first landing craft arrived on the beach below.

Sainte Mere Eglise

St Mere Eglise was at the heart of the American Airborne operations on D Day, with some troops even dropping into the middle of the town. The museum was started in their memory, and comprises two main buildings just off the main square, and close to the famous church. The story of the American Airborne is told via hundreds of artifacts and photographs, there are two films, and original examples of a Waco Glider and a C47 Transport aircraft. Outside are tanks, half tracks and guns.

3 Day School Trip to Normandy D-Day Beaches from £169

Day 1: Travel via Calais to Normandy and our hotel near the D-Day beaches.
Day 2: Visit to the Pegasus Bridge Museum which celebrates the capture of the bridge by British paratroopers in the early hours of D-Day. Then the excellent 20 minute film of D-Day at the Arromanches 360° cinema and visit to the D-Day Museum. Lastly a visit to the German gun battery at Longues.
Day 3: Visit to the Memorial Museum at Caen* before returning via Calais.

4 Day School Trip to the Normandy D-Day Landings from £225

Day 1: Travel via Calais to Normandy and our hotel near the D-Day beaches.
Day 2: Visit to the excellent Arromanches 360° cinema showing a 20 minute film of the D-Day landings*. We then visit Omaha beach and the American cemetery at Colleville. Then Musée du Débarquement* at Arromanches. Chance to view the remains of the innovative Mulberry Harbour.
Day 3: Visit to Bayeux to see the British cemetery and the famous tapestry*. Visit to a German gun battery. Later visit to Pegasus Bridge Museum* which celebrates the capture of the bridge by the British paratroopers on the first day of the D-Day landings.
Day 4: Visit to the Memorial Museum at Caen* before returning via Calais

* Extra charge.

Accommodation - 1 or 2 star hotels or School Centre

Students share multi-bedded rooms on a Full Board basis.

The Accommodation centres are used exclusively by schools and youth organisations and are often beside a beach. They have class rooms that can be booked for use by your group.