Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
A film about the terrible Battle of Normandy taken from archive images from around the world is projected in high definition on 9 screens. This film is a tribute to soldiers from all countries and to the 20,000 civilians who were killed during this battle for the liberation of Europe.
Select says:
A preview can be viewed on Arromanches Circular Cinema website. There is a great view of Mulberry Harbour from up here, and views of Bayeaux town and the coast line.
Allow: 30 mins
Arromanches: D-Day Landings Museum
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
The museum has five different sections including: a gallery of working models overlooking the historic site (guided tour), a diorama with special light and sound effects that brings the early hours of D Day to life, the hall of the Allied Nations museum collections, a film featuring archive footage, and shops.
Select says:
The museum overlooks where one of the Mulberry Harbours was constructed, and its remains can be seen a few hundred metres from the shore. The beach is a great place to stop for lunch and have a bit of fun after the museum. Encourage the students to re-enact what they think happened as the soldiers landed on the beaches.
Allow: 1 hour 30 mins
Memorial Museum and Bridge
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
A museum about WWII, dedicated to the heroic action of the 6th British Airborne Division during the battle which took place on the beaches of the landing in Normandy in June to September 1944. Guided visits, within a thematically laid out exhibition hall, enable the visitors to discover the missions of the division and view hundreds of historical objects and photos.
Select says:
The original Bénouville Bridge, renamed Pegasus Bridge after the liberation, is on display in the park of the museum. An excellent insight into the planning and execution of one of the most important actions of the invasion. This is a lovely place to stop for lunch by the riverside.
Allow: 1 hour 30 mins
D-Day Beaches
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
Utah, Omaha, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach were stormed by Allied soldiers in the morning of June 6th 1944. A visit to the beaches will help your students gain a real feel for the environment and help them imagine events within the settings.
Select says:
A visit to Omaha Beach helps to understand the importance of timing and the problems that had to be overcome for the invasion to be a success. Any of the beaches are a wonderful place to stop for lunch.
Allow: 1 hour
Juno Beach Centre and Juno Park
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
This is a memorial and an educational museum. The Juno Beach Centre shows visitors the importance of Canadian involvement in the Second World War – its troops, navy and industrial effort, which proved vital to the Allies. There are various multimedia interactive terminals available to visitors.
Select says:
There are superb educator resources available on the Juno Beach Centre website for use before and after your tour. Certain tours allow you to see up close and personal military clothing and other items used during the war.
Allow: 1 hour
Bayeux British Cemetery
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
This is the largest WWII cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers in France. It contains 4,648 burials, mostly from the Invasion of Normandy.
Select says:
An oasis of tranquillity on the edge of this busy city, the first to be liberated in France.Opposite this cemetery stands the Bayeux Memorial which commemorates more than 1,800 casualties of the Commonwealth forces who died in Normandy and have no known grave.
Allow: 1 hour
Normandy American Cemetery
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
The cemetery site covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings. On the Walls of the Missing there are 1,557 names inscribed. The memorial consists of a semi-circular colonnade with an exterior gallery at each end containing large maps and narratives of the military operations. There is also an orientation table depicting the landings in Normandy.
Select says:
To get the most out of your visit we recommend booking a free guided tour. This cemetery was featured in Saving Private Ryan. You can access the beach from here down a lot of steps, again you could encourage the students to re-enact what they think happened when soldiers landed.
Allow: 1 hour
German Battery – Longues-sur-Mer
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
This formidable German battery, built on a picturesque cliff, included four fearsome 150mm canons, capable of firing on targets 20km away. It took a bombardment carried out by the Royal Air Force and two hits by a French cruiser to destroy it definitively on 6 June 1944.
Select says:
The battery’s observation post was the backdrop for one of the most famous scenes of the film The Longest Day.
Allow: 1 hour
Overlord Museum
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
Located a short distance from Omaha beach, Overlord Museum covers the period of the Allied landing until the liberation of Paris. The collection was put together by Michel Leloup who was both a witness to the conflict and involved in the reconstruction of Normandy. You will see numerous items including a reconnaissance plane, V-1 flying bomb, more than 10 armoured fighting vehicles, 30 soft skin vehicles, artillery pieces, posters, signs, documents and personal items from individual soldiers.
Select says:
Many of the vehicles have been restored to full running order and have been accurately equipped and painted.
Allow: 1 hour 30 mins
Caen Memorial Museum
Subject/age range: History,
What you’ll experience:
This is museum and war memorial, a place of history and reflection on the close links between the rights of man and the preservation of peace. Visitors take a journey back from 1918 to the present day. There are three memorial gardens: the American Garden, the British Garden and the Canadian Garden.
Select says:
There is a gallery dedicated to the Nobel Peace Prize and an extension focusing on the Cold War and the search for Peace, comprising neutralised warheads, planes and a fragment of the Berlin Wall. The museum contains a lot of artefacts and information, not only on WWII but on other significant moments in history too.
Allow: 1 hour – half a day – depending on learning objective.
Bayeux
Subject/age range: MFL, Cultural, History,
What you’ll experience:
Famous for its Tapestry relating the Battle of Hastings and accession of William the Conqueror to the throne of England, Bayeux has also seen the first official appearance of General Charles de Gaulle, only a few days only after D-Day. Walking through the wonderful narrow medieval streets, squares and alleys of Bayeux, you’ll see the ancient buildings, timbered houses and historical landmarks. A highlight is the beautiful Bayeux Cathedral and there are scenic views over the little river Aure.
Select says:
Bayeux was the first French town to be liberated from Nazi occupation during the 1944 Battle of Normandy and survived almost completely unscathed. Great place to stop for lunch and enjoy a nice quiet village in the heart of Normandy.
Allow: 1-2 hours
Bayeux Tapestry Museum
Subject/age range: MFL, Art, Cultural, History,
What you’ll experience:
The Bayeux Tapestry is a unique source on the 11th century beginning with Harold’s eventful journey to Normandy through to the Battle of Hastings. Visits are by audio-guide giving commentary on the scenes.
Select says:
There is a simplified audio version in English especially for children.
Allow: 1 hour
Joan of Arc Museum – Rouen
Subject/age range: Cultural, History,
What you’ll experience:
The museum combines a state-of-the-art, immersive exhibition space with comprehensive historical content which transports visitors back to the Middle Ages, enabling them to explore the myth and legend of France’s national heroine.
Select says:
Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) was burned at the stake in 1431 in Rouen. Additional Joan of Arc sites in Rouen include the Joan of Arc dungeon and the Joan of Arc Church which was built in 1979.
Allow: 1 hour
William the Conqueror’s Castle, Falaise
Subject/age range: MFL, Cultural,
What you’ll experience:
William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born at the castle in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France. The tour uses computer tablets to show the castle as it was lived in together with a description of the history of the Normans.
Select says:
There are lots of stairs to climb, but there’s a lovely view over Falaise from the castle heights.
Allow: 1 hour
