Home > Bayeux > Normandy Battlefields Tour - Sword Beach and the British Airborne Sector
USD $80.00
Normandy Battlefields Tour - Sword Beach and the British Airborne Sector
Bayeux, France
Explore the Normandy battlefields with a guide on this 5-hour tour, and learn of the struggles that took place here during World War II. Offering a sensitive introduction to this difficult period of European history, the tour takes you to many of the sites that saw action. Visit the Merville Gun Battery and Museum, Sword Beach and the Hillman Bunkers and gain an understanding of the conflict that played out there. Walk among the graves at the Commonwealth Military Cemeteries and read the touching epitaphs left to fallen soldiers.
Begin your tour with a visit to the famous Pegasus Bridge, where General Gale’s 6th Airborne Division famously halted German attacks coming in from the east. Listen as your knowledgeable guide describes the strategic significance of this important landmark, and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Continue onward to the Merville Gun Battery and Museum and discover the more of the history of this once war-torn part of northern France. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Otway, the men of the 6th British Airborne Division were tasked with the capture and destruction of the enemy guns firing on the Allied forces on Sword Beach. Hear how, against all odds, the courageous soldiers succeeded in their D-Day mission.
Visit Sword Beach, the most easterly of Normandy’s five landing beaches. Hear how 28,000 soldiers came ashore under heavy fire here, to begin the arduous task of liberating Western Europe. The city of Caen was their goal but the German resistance was strong.
Spend time exploring the Hillman Bunkers, a series of 18 underground concrete shelters linked by trenches. Hear your guide explain why the bunkers were built and gain an understanding of the strategic uses to which they were put during battle.
Continue onward to the Commonwealth Military Cemeteries. Wander among the graves and flowers, taking time to read a few of the touching epitaphs and letters left to fallen soldiers. The sense of history weighs heavy here, but the Commonwealth cemeteries are the perfect place for quiet reflection to heal old wounds.
After five hours exploring the sites and discovering the history of the Normandy battlefields, your tour will come to an end.
Marvellous, brilliant guide. So glad we went on it, much better than just driving ourselves about and missing half of what we saw.
Review by: greenlees, September 2017
We were a bit disappointed with this tour. What we wanted to see most was Sword beach as we were very interested in the British landings, but there was very little time spent there. On the other hand we had too much time left to wander round a war cemetery. Our guide was very knowledgeable, but not very engaging. And he was hard to hear because the mike in the van was broken.
Review by: Julie M, August 2017
Excellent tour. Our guide was so lovely - great combination of enthusiastic and knowledgable and made for a very interesting afternoon.
Review by: vanessadeguz, August 2017
Good to see a more comprehensive perspective of the region and its history, as a companion to the American sector. Guide was accommodating but we left wanting more insight to such an important part of modern history.
Review by: Terry J S, August 2015
Very knowledgeable guide. We were a little disappointed that we did not go to the Sword museum as this was the main reason for booking. However we enjoyed many aspects of the tour and we were pleased that after asking we actually went to the Sword beach and paid our respects to family.
Review by: norproducts, October 2014
Excellent tour, for a half day a lot was packed in, our guide was very informative.
Review by: Linton Mark E, August 2014
The tour was excellent, but the British-French tour guide was condascending in attitude toward us when we had a question and was definitely very biased against the American perspective of Normandy D-Day. We did not appreciate that he constantly was telling us that the Americans should have listened to the Brits on strategy, etc. Other than that, we loved the British Sector Tour and respected all that the British did and the lives sacrificed on D-Day. It was sobering. One very nice part of this tour was being picked up and taken back to our bed and breakfast location.
Review by: Macca, July 2014
Absolutely fantastic day, enjoyed every minute.
Review by: Glen C, January 2014
Great tour, very moving._br/_
Sly our guide and was very knowledgeable and made the day._br/_
Especially loved the story of Pegasus bridge with Paras and Marines _br/_
Thanks for making our trip so memorable Sly
Review by: NivekNagrom, August 2013
Very Good. Our guide was full of insights and kept it interesting
Review by: richard r, July 2013
Excellent! Our tour guide for the British sector was Sylvain "Sly" Kast. He was extremely knowledgeable, pleasant, and patient-fielding many questions from the tourists. I have advised friends anticipating a trip to Normandy to contact me in advance so that I can guide them to Sly! Please share this with Sly Thank you, Dick Robins
Review by: BRUCE C, July 2013
Well worth the effort to do this tour but probably should have completed an all day one to allow more time at Pegasus bridge for example.The quide (Matthew) was brilliant and obviously had researched the history of the area extremely well - he was very informative on not only the tour aspects but also all other things in the region.
Review by: Anonymous, August 2010
Olivier was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide who is generous enough to share his extensive knowledge with his clients. If you have longer, consider doing a full day tour. Or, if you have a specific request, do ask for a personalised private tour.
Review by: Louise H, August 2010
Olivier was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide who is generous enough to share his extensive knowledge with his clients. If you have longer, consider doing a full day tour. Or, if you have a specific request, do ask for a personalised private tour.
Review by: , August 2010
Olivier was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide who is generous enough to share his extensive knowledge with his clients. If you have longer, consider doing a full day tour. Or, if you have a specific request, do ask for a personalised private tour.
Review by: Margaret D, United Kingdom, May 2010
We had a very interesting afternoon in which we were taken to a range of places. Well beyond our expectations and despite the threat of bad weather we managed to keep mainly dry. Our guide was excellent and made us feel comfortable enough to ask a whole range of questions which he answered in detail.
Review by: LAUREL M, February 2010
The tour was very thought provoking! Our guide was knowledgeable and helpful an excellent survey of the beaches, highly recommended.
Review by: Laurel M, Australia, October 2009
The tour was very thought provoking! Our guide was knowledgeable and helpful an excellent survey of the beaches, highly recommended.
Review by: LAUREL M, October 2009
The tour was very thought provoking! Our guide was knowledgeable and helpful an excellent survey of the beaches, highly recommended.
Review by: Wickham D, United Kingdom, September 2008
Our guide, a charming young French woman with excellent English, arrived promptly at the hotel. The tour packed in a lot in a short time with visits to Pegasus Bridge, Ranville Cemetary, Hillman and Sword Beach. At each stop her detailed knowledge made for a most informative and enjoyable experience.
Review by: WICKHAM D, September 2008
Our guide, a charming young French woman with excellent English, arrived promptly at the hotel. The tour packed in a lot in a short time with visits to Pegasus Bridge, Ranville Cemetary, Hillman and Sword Beach. At each stop her detailed knowledge made for a most informative and enjoyable experience.
Review by: Gary H, September 2008
Excellent trip, the driver knew everything that he could about this and was able to answer all of our questions.
Review by: Gary H, United Kingdom, August 2008
Excellent trip, the driver knew everything that he could about this and was able to answer all of our questions.
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