Normandy, the British D-Day Memorial & Rouen

2024 marks the 80th anniversary of one of the greatest battles for freedom the world has ever known. On this fascinating weekend break we head across the Channel to learn more about the Allied invasion of Normandy during the Second World War and the events of 6 June 1944. We visit the British Normandy Memorial, which lists the names of all the 22,442 British servicemen and women who passed in the Normandy campaign that year. We also tour some of the D-Day Landing beaches, discovering more about the incredible events that took place and hear stories of great human sacrifice and bravery from our specialist guide. So join us on a journey of remembrance to pay homage to those who gave their lives during this heroic campaign.What's Included?
- Return coach travel & ferry crossings- 3 nights at the ibis Styles, Ouistreham (JG3 rating) with breakfast- Guided tour of the British Normandy Memorial & D-Day Landing Beaches with a specialist battlefields guide- Excursion to Honfleur & Trouville-sur-Mer- En-route visit to Rouen

Itinerary
Day 1\nFerry to Calais and on to our hotel in Ouistreham, where we stay on a bed and breakfast basis.Day 2 - The British Normandy Memorial & D-Day Landing Beaches\nWe join our specialist battlefields guide and travel first to the British Normandy Memorial, overlooking Gold Beach. Honouring all those under British command who never came home from Normandy in the summer of 1944, the memorial was inaugurated on 6th June 2019 (the 75th anniversary of D-Day) and officially opened on 6th June 2021 and includes an evocative D-Day Sculpture created by David Williams-Ellis.Afterwards, we tour some of the infamous D-Day Landing beaches, learning more about the events of 6th June 1944 when the Allies landed on the coast of Normandy for what was the turning point in the Second World War. Later, we return to Ouistreham where there's free time to enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice. Day 3 - Honfleur & Trouville-sur-Mer\nOur day starts with a visit to Honfleur, one of the most picturesque fishing ports in France and a favourite haunt for artists. The quaint harbour is lined with narrow, slate-fronted houses while the Old Town boasts narrow cobbled streets and half-timbered buildings with art galleries, boutiques and traditional craft shops.We continue on to the fashionable seaside resort of Trouville-sur-Mer. This charming town is renowned for its glamorous villas and beautiful beach as well as a casino. It is also home to a vibrant fishing port with a lively fish market and plenty of small cafés and restaurants selling fresh seafood. On our return to Ouistreham, the evening is at leisure to find a restaurant of your choice for dinner.Day 4\nEn route back to Calais, we stop in Rouen, the capital of Normandy. Formerly one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe, Rouen has many half-timbered houses, an ancient astronomical clock and one of the finest medieval Gothic cathedrals in France. Later, we continue our journey and catch the return ferry home.

Normandy & D-Day Memorial
Normandy Beaches\nMost notable for being the site of the D-Day landings, the beaches of Normandy lie on the sweeping north coast of France. The beaches are as beautiful as they are historically important, with unobstructed sea views and miles of golden sands as well as places that still hold the memory of that infamous battle for us to discover.British Normandy Memorial\nThe stunning Normandy British Memorial is dedicated to the 22,442 British troops who fell during the D-Day landings and the stark white pillars hold the names of those soldiers. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Normandy coast, this monument provides visitors with a suitable space for meditation and remembrance.

Honfleur
Enjoy the harbourside scenery and sleepy charms of Honfleur, one of Normandy's most visited towns. Situated on the Seine estuary, this historic port features incredibly picturesque half-timber buildings that line the waterfront and cobbled streets that create the welcoming atmosphere of a town from another time. Sit and watch the boats quietly bob in the harbour while sipping on a drink at one of the cafés, marvel at the unique wooden Church of Sainte-Catherine, where the ceiling appears like a ship's hull, or take in some culture at one of the local art galleries. Whatever your speed, Honfleur has something for everyone.

Trouville-sur-Mer
Get inspired in the elegant seaside resort of Trouville-sur-Mer, the stylish heart of Normandy. A popular destination for the glamourous and fashionable crowds since the 19th century, Trouville-sur-Mer is full of villas, palaces, a boardwalk and even a casino that sit alongside the remnants of its fishing port roots. From the many art galleries to the celebrated fish market, Trouville-sur-Mer is a chic city with something to offer everyone.

Rouen
The capital of Normandy, Rouen, wears its quiet continental beauty with pride. From the effortlessly pretty, half-timber buildings to the grand, sprawling cathedral with its towering spire, everywhere you look is a feast for the eyes. The city centre also is home to the 14th-century astronomical clock known as Le Gros Horloge, a marvel of medieval engineering which is still spectacular by today's standards and has thousands of visitors every year.Hotel (JG3 rating)
Our ibis Styles hotel is located in the resort town of Ouistreham, just 500m from the quaint fishing harbour and beach, codenamed Sword Beach during the Normandy landings. Hotel facilities include a bar, restaurant, comfortable en-suite bedrooms and free Wi-Fi.