Paris day trip to D Day sites possible?
Jun 16th, 2005, 07:09 PM
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Paris day trip to D Day sites possible?
2nd week of June I would like to go on a bus tour of D-Day sites. I w/be staying in Paris w/others who are not interested, so I'm thinking I could take an early train to Caen, hookup with an organized bus tour, then return to Paris evening of the same day - is that possible? It looks like there are several Paris - Caen trains daily. If not I guess I could spend one night in Normandy area and return the next morning. Appreciate any insights.
Jun 16th, 2005, 07:33 PM
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You can see a lot of Normandy in a day - although an organized tour bus would deny you of the flexibility to linger here or cut short there. You can either rent a car or hire a private tour.
Besides the invasion beaches and cemeteries, there are D-Day museums in Caen and Arromanches, and the Cathedral and Tapestry in Bayeux.
If you like seafood, try to be around Port-en-Bessin at lunchtime.
Besides the invasion beaches and cemeteries, there are D-Day museums in Caen and Arromanches, and the Cathedral and Tapestry in Bayeux.
If you like seafood, try to be around Port-en-Bessin at lunchtime.
Jun 16th, 2005, 09:25 PM
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We are planning on taking the train from St. Lazare at 4:13pm, arriving at Bayeux at 6:13. Staying the night in Bayeux and going on the Battle Bus Tour the next day. Looking around Bayeux and leaving on the 9:10 train--back in Paris at 11:26. I don't know how difficult the train station is to navigate.
Jun 17th, 2005, 07:33 AM
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My wife and I did it with no problems.
Took a early train in to , saw the tapestry and caught an half day tour with Battlebus. Since it gets dark so late in the summer, we got back in before it was dark.
It wasn't hard/rushed at all.
Took a early train in to , saw the tapestry and caught an half day tour with Battlebus. Since it gets dark so late in the summer, we got back in before it was dark.
It wasn't hard/rushed at all.
Jun 17th, 2005, 12:47 PM
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I recommend taking train to Bayeux, spending the night there and taking the Battlebus tour the next day, also. It begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5:30 pm. Website is www.battlebus.fr
We saw Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, American Cemetery at Colville, Point du Hoc, St. Mere Eglise (where the paratrooper landed on the church steeple), and some other sites that I don't remember the names of.
It was a great day, and the guide was very knowledgeable.
We saw Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, American Cemetery at Colville, Point du Hoc, St. Mere Eglise (where the paratrooper landed on the church steeple), and some other sites that I don't remember the names of.
It was a great day, and the guide was very knowledgeable.
Jun 17th, 2005, 12:52 PM
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The Battlebus tour was very good. Our guide was knowledgable and, more importantly passionate about what he said so it was very interesting.
We saw Omaha, Point du Hoc, a local museum/tourist area, and the American cemetary.
I would recommend them.
We saw Omaha, Point du Hoc, a local museum/tourist area, and the American cemetary.
I would recommend them.
Jun 17th, 2005, 04:22 PM
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Look on the Battlebus website (www.battlebus.fr) they say they have tours of the Canadian sites.
Jun 17th, 2005, 05:36 PM
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Photobear: Check out the Juno Beach Centre (just Google those words)for some info on Canadian sites. The museum there conducts a tour of the immediate beach area and has referrals to a few companies that conduct tours that relates to the Canadian participation in D-Day.
Jun 17th, 2005, 08:15 PM
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Thanks to all! Tekla and grandmere - your itinerary sounds the most logical. I am going in July not June and w/probably do a one-day tour on 7/11. Battlebus has sold me on a full-day tour (I guess their "Band of Brothers" tour is 1/2 day). I would rather go the eve before and be refreshed. Did you buy train tix in advance on SNCF or is there no problem buying them a day or 2 in advance in Paris? Nice place to stay in Bayeux? Tekla, your plan sounds good - back at St. Lazare at 11:26 pm - I guess we could easily take a taxi late at night from St. Lazare to 5th agr? Others I'll be with are now getting interested so I won't be going alone, so I got that going for me...which is nice.
Jun 17th, 2005, 09:09 PM
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We stayed at the Hotel d'Argouges in Bayeux; it was within walking distance of the departure point for the Battlebus tour. It's a charming, family-owned 2 star; highly recommend it. We had dinner at Le Petit Bistro, recommended by the hotel (and also w/in walking distance) and it was a super little place with excellent food, "typique de la region".
We drove to Bayeux (rented at CDG), but took train from Caen to Paris. Get your train ticket on www.sncf.com website. We got a PREM (still don't know what that stands for; it is an acronym, I assume?) fare, and it was only 15 euro/ person, second class. From Bayeux I suppose it would be a few more euro.
That's great that you have others in your party interested in going to Normandy with you; I'm sure all of you will find it a worthwhile trip. Enjoy!
We drove to Bayeux (rented at CDG), but took train from Caen to Paris. Get your train ticket on www.sncf.com website. We got a PREM (still don't know what that stands for; it is an acronym, I assume?) fare, and it was only 15 euro/ person, second class. From Bayeux I suppose it would be a few more euro.
That's great that you have others in your party interested in going to Normandy with you; I'm sure all of you will find it a worthwhile trip. Enjoy!
Jun 17th, 2005, 11:42 PM
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we have visited Normandy twice and both times we rented a car in Caen. We have not taken the tour buses but seeing the itenerary mentioned, there are a couple of important (in our minds) sights that are missed: the two non-American cemeteries. The Canadian/Allies,and German cemetaries. And if you have two days, you should visit the Peace Museum at Caen. Very expensive but well worth spending a few hours in. After 3-4 hours we were just tired and emotionally drained (don't forget the Nobel Peace Prize winners display in the basement).
Jun 18th, 2005, 06:22 AM
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If you're going as a group, there are more economical choices than Battlebus. Hook up with one of the guided tours that charge by the carload (1 to 7 people) out of Bayeux, and you can go anywhere you want to on your own schedule. Here are some typical prices for a five- to eight-hour tour:
American Cemetery - Omaha Beach - Pointe du Hoc 65€
Add: Arromanches - Longues-sur-Mer +30€
Les Taxis du Bessin 02 31 92 92 40
American Cemetery - Omaha Beach - Pointe du Hoc 65€
Add: Arromanches - Longues-sur-Mer +30€
Les Taxis du Bessin 02 31 92 92 40
