We'll be in Bayeux for three full days next month, one of which will be spent touring the D-Day beaches. Our plans also include sightseeing in Bayeux and Caen-any other must-see suggestions (besides Mont St. Michel)? We'll have a rental car, but would like to keep within a couple of hours of Bayeux. Thanks!

I love Honfleur. Fun having lunch at one of the cafes by the water.
My favorite Brasserie is in Trouville, Les Vapeurs.

I think you'll find that you can easily spend more than one full day touring the D-Day beaches and museums. The Mémorial in Caen occupied us for a full four hours, for example. And Bayeux is a lovely town to explore, with the tapestry and cathedral, etc. Unless you're looking to really pack your days with excursions, I think three days in Bayeux with trips to the beaches, museums, Caen, and things in Bayeux itself will be adequately filled

I enjoy visiting the old town of Rouen very much:impressive cathedral and churches,interesting museums.

If you have time after Bayeux and the beaches, I love St Mere-Eglise with its moving stained glass in the church honoring the parachutists. (Can anyone remember the great movie re-enacting this part of WWII history?)

Be sure to see the 360 degree film at Arromanches..the town is also a good place to lunch.

Hi VictoriaK,
St Mere-Eglise is a fascinating place to visit, there is a statue of Private Steele who's parachute caught on the Cathedral spire, the French in these areas are very respectful of the memory of WW2 Allies and the graves are tended with such devotion by the war graves commission. Although I have noticed in recent years that commercialism is really taking over at some of these places. Particularily Mont St Michel which is dreadfully tacky and overcrowded.
We loved Vire and stayed near there several times enjoying a drink in the square.

Have fun

Mucky

See my posting, Just back from Bayeux, Normandy, for several suggestions.

Could you mean the movie "The Longest Day". I believe Red Buttons played Pvt Steele. I would definitely visit The Memorial in Caen before going to any of the beaches as StCirq mentions, it is not to be missed.

I agree with one previous post--there is so much to see in Normandy, you shouldn't plan anything else. The experience of seeing that museum in Caen is so worthwhile, and I strongly suggest you go there before any of the sites. Your comprehension of what you'll see will be worth it.
Just walking in these little towns, climbing around the German guns, etc is memorable. Be at the cementery at noon, the bells ringing at that site will leave you breathless.
Warning: no matter when you go it will be cold and windy by the cliffs. It was sweatshirt weather in June when we went.
A fabulous article appeared in the travel section of the New York Times on the 50th anniversary of D-Day. It would be worth paying for the archive from their web site, it did a great job of planning your entire trip for you.

Thanks, cbo86, that is the movie and the actor.

I wasn't that impressed with the 360 movie in Arrowmanches. If I had my trip to do over, I would have spent more time in Caen, rather then pushing on to get to Arrowmanches before the movie closed for the day.

Keith

10 of us saw the movie at Arromanches; 4 loved it, 4 just liked it and 2 thought it was an utter waste of time and money. To each his own!

But Victoria, what you can see from all of these postings is that just doing Caen/Bayeux would be more than enough.

There are historical sites for every taste. I thought the museum in Arromanches about the portable harbor was fascinating. You could spend zillions of hours in the Bayeux D-Day museum--it's one of those kind where there are letters home from every nationality participating in the war, newspaper headlines from each country, etc. We loved the little Ranger museum, too. The Canadian museum had not opened yet during our visit, and I'm sure it will be great. As the posters above have indicated, that's just scratching the surface.

And Bayeux is a neat little walkable town. The area up to the Tapestry Museum is filled with shops and restaurants.

We like Honfleur and Rouen--either would be a neat day trip if you're bored.

Wise fodorites, my thanks to all of you for the suggestions. I think we will remain in the immediate area and take the time to enjoy Bayeux and Caen.