Published articles
Discover Colleville sur Mer
Originally published in Destination France, June 2006
Véronique Gray had a moving experience at Omaha Beach and at the American Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer
Colleville-sur-Mer cemetary at Omaha Beach
If you happen to take the ferry to Caen or drive through Normandy, take a close look at your map. The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach is well worth the detour. It is a 45-minute drive northwest of Caen.
Among the 14 World War II American cemeteries in foreign lands, this one is the most well known. No other cemetery in Normandy contains as many American remains. The 9,387 marble graves are organized in 10 square sections, set on a very well cared for lawn. Two graves belong to the Roosevelt’s family, two sons of the American President Teddy Roosevelt.
You will need at least one hour to go through the site. There is a visitor centre at the entrance, a chapel, a memorial to pay tribute to the missing soldiers and a large pond. While walking in the cemetery along the beautiful tree path and in between the graves, you will probably recognize the place if you watched the movie Saving Private Ryan, as the first and last scenes were filmed there.
The cemetery opened 50 years ago this year. French President René Coty and American General George Marshall inaugurated it on July 18, 1956. It was built on a plot of land, which the French gave to the Americans. Today, the American government completely finances the maintenance of the site and keeps it also open on American holidays.
The cemetery overlooks the cliff of Omaha beach, the major D-Day landing beach of June 6, 1944. It is there that most men lost their life that day. The observation table is a good place to stand and reflect on the brave American men who died as heroes at Omaha. An estimated number of 23,000 Americans died to liberate Normandy during World War II.
As it is only about 600 feet to Omaha beach, it would be a shame not to go there for a stroll or a swim. Looking at this peaceful sandy beach today, it is hard to imagine that the American forces suffered more than 2000 casualties in just one day, causing it to be nicknamed ‘Bloody Omaha’.
FIND OUT MORE
TOURIST OFFICE
Place de la Mairie 14119 Colleville sur Mer
T: (00 33) (0)2 31 22 44 00 E:mairie.colleville@free.fr
AMERICAN MILITARY CEMETERY
Colleville sur Mer
T: (00 33) (0)2 31 51 62 00
F: (00 33) (0)2 31 51 62 09
E: Normandy.Cemetery@abmc-er.org
FERRY
Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to port of Ouistreham near Caen.
www.brittanyferries.ie or call in England 021 4277801
www.aferry.co.uk
ROAD
From Caen N13, then D208 and then D514 to Colleville.
From Paris Autoroute A13 to Caen, then D208 and then D514 to Colleville.
TRAIN
Take the Eurostar in London Waterloo to Paris Nord. www.eurostar.com.
Take the RER to Station Magenta, then Metro E line to Haussmann/Gare St. Lazare.
Check www.ratp.fr for transportation’s maps and schedules
From Gare St. Lazare take the train to Caen. www.tgv.com or www.sncf.fr.
RAIL EUROPE
T: 08705 848 848 www.raileurope.co.uk
AIR
Closest airport is Paris. Flights to Paris are available from Newcastle with Cityjet, from Heathrow with BA, from Glasgow with Ryanair, from Heathrow, Nottingham with BMI, and from Liverpool, Newcastle and Luton with EasyJet.
WHERE TO STAY
Holiday Inn
Place Foch Caen centre,14000 Caen
T: (00 33) (0)2 31 27 57 57
F: (00 33) (0)2 31 27 57 58
Camping Port’land Sunêlia ****
14520 Port en Bessin Huppain
T: (00 33) (0)2 31 51 07 06
F: (00 33) (0)2 31 51 76 49
