After an eventful ferry journey from Poole to St Malo, we arrived at Eco Gites of Lenault at 10.30pm and were so tired we literally fell into our bed once we had settled the kids for the night and decided to stay on the farm and relax the following day.
By Monday however, we were keen to get exploring the area we were staying in. Hubby has been looking forward to this trip for the last seven months and had drawn up an itinery of places he wanted to visit, grouping them together by the closest so there wasn’t too much travelling for the kids.
Our first stop was the town of St Mere Eglise, the first town to be liberated in 1944 and which was also made famous by the paratrooper John Steel who managed to land on the church when his chute got caught on the steeple. He hung there while the fighting continued on the ground for two hours before being cut down by the Germans, taken prisoner and later released by the Americans. An effigy of John Steel is still seen on the church.
The Airborne Museum is directly opposite the church and helps you understand D-Day from a paratroopers perspective. Inside the first building is a replica of an American WACO glider which you get to climb inside and see pictures from D-Day itself. The C-47 building shows you a replica of the British C-47 plane and has models of all the airborne troops in their uniforms.
By far our favourite building though was Operation Neptune building where we got to join in the nighttime embarkation of a C-47 aircraft in England, then drop into the square of Sainte-Mère-Eglise in the midst of the fighting and take part in the operation. It was dark and noisy but the kids were not phased by it at all and seemed fascinated by what went on.
After the Airborne Museum we headed to Utah Beach which was the first of the two American landing zones on D-Day and about 20 minutes away by car. As soon as we arrived we were struck by the importance of the location as it had several memorials to those lost, as well as the Utah Beach D-Day Museum.
We let the kids run up and down the sand dunes to burn off some energy before we headed inside to the museum to warm up. The Utah Beach Museum recounts the story of D-Day in 10 sequences, from the preparation of the landing, to the final outcome and success. It is a really comprehensive chronological journey that covers the history of the landing through a rich collection of objects, vehicles, materials, and oral histories. I was horrified to learn that the boots the Germans wore were lined with jewish hair, not wool and have to admit that the little ones and I concentrated on the magnificent B52 bomber whilst Hubby and Kian looked into all the facts of the Operation Overlord.
Our final visit for the day was the family favourite and a bit of light relief – Pointe du Hoc. Which commands a great view of two of the D-Day landing beaches – Omaha and Utah.
The point stands on cliffs between 85 to over 100 feet high at whose base was a very small rocky beach that offered no protection. Because the point was positioned on near impregnable cliffs, the Germans had concentrated their defenses in anticipation of a ground assault from inland and above the cliffs were heavily fortified concrete casements interlaced with tunnels, trenches, and machine-gun positions around the perimeter which are still there to be explored today. The US Rangers surprised the Germans and scaled the cliffs to take control of this vital area on D-Day.
The kids loved racing up and down the hills created by shelling, exploring the bunkers and poking their heads out of the gun pits. It is also a stunning piece of coastline with a stack of rock protruding out from the sea.
Our first day of exploring the history of Normandy was fascinating and Isaac and Eliza both learned so much from the museums and exploring where the battles took place. I just wish their great-grandparents were still here so they could explain what it was like to fight in the war.
Looks like you are having a fantastic time. We love holidays like this. Ones full of adventures and learning. Can’t abide lying on a beech all day doing nothing
What a family holiday! The kids all look to be having fun and learning lots too. We did a ferry to St Malo once, it was a convenient way to get to France.
Such an action packed holiday for the entire family. I never realised there was so much to see and do x
Wow what a fab first day packed with some lovely places to visit and lots to learn from these historical places. it’s certainly shown me some places I never knew about but would love to visit.
Oh gosh this so reminds me of the trip we took to Northern France at the end of last year. Sounds like you’re all having an absolute ball. JD’s dad and grandfather were in the RAF so we have a huge affiliation with military history. He’s love it here. Enjoy 🙂
You go to so many lovely places its lovely that u share them with us as there are many places I’ve not been to before.
St Mere Eglise sounds lovely! We can’t believe how much stuff there is to do for children in Normandy! A great adventure!
wow looks like you definitely kept busy the first day :p I love the look of Utah beach and museum, the little monster would definitely like that one! x
Wow, such a lot of history there, and such a gorgeous place too!
Sounds like you are having such a great time. A couple of years ago we drove to South of France and loved it! 🙂
Been years since I’ve been to Normandy and I’ll be honest, I didn’t know these museums existed! I must return, they sound fascinating! #COuntryKids
Wow, this sounds so interesting! It’s amazing to have so many fantastic museums so close to each other. The boys and me would love to visit them and learn more about the history.
What an interesting day, it’s always incredible the history of that day, and the lead up to it. The kids look like they’re really enjoying exploring and learning all about what happened, it’s great that you explored some bunkers that were used during d-day as well as museums, it makes it more real. It looks like a learning and adventure holiday was on the cards and I look forward to seeing what else you get up to. Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
It looks like the kids had a fun day exploring. There are some really striking images there at the memorials. How important it is that families are still visiting and remembering what happened.
Oooh going to have to check this out next time we are over in Normandie, although we go a lot we don’t really go to the coast (other than Dieppe or Boulogne)! Really love going to France with the kids its just so easy to find things to do and eat out there!
As a history buff I would love to visit Normandy and I prefer adventure, exploration type holidays too!
I know the mister would love to visit Normandy and we both love history x
You managed to pack so much in! It all looks so interesting. It’s a part of France I have yet to really visit! 🙂
What an interesting place to visit, I love anything to do with history so would love to go here 🙂
Wow – you have managed to do a lot already! This looks fascinating – my older children would love all the history. Brilliant photos, can’t wait to read more. Kaz x
My husband would absolutely love this – it all looks so interesting x
I love all parts of Northern France – we spent a day in Boulogne this half term, will have to give Normandy a go with them next time.
I went to France with the school when I was younger and loved it. Exploring the different parts is definitely on our to do list – popping over from Mummy2Monkeys
France has always been somewhere I have loved visiting. Ive been so many times but their is so many things I still want to explore. Look’s like you are having a lovely time! x
Looks like you had a very successful first day in Normandy. It’s such a lovely part of France with so much history.
This is so wonderful. Normandy holds a special place in my heart. I went there twice with the school as a teenager and i remember it so clearly and being so in awe of the place
What a lovely adventure you all went one! As a family we love visiting historic places too so we’ll have to visit Normandy for ourselves one day 🙂
Thanks for linking this to #AllAboutFrance, I hope you come back next month with part 3 and 4!