VIP D-DAY IN NORMANDY AND MONT SAINT MICHEL

During the VIP D-Day in Normandy and Mont Saint Michel tour, on the way to the first visit (about 2 hours of driving), your personal driver-guide will give you a historical introduction to the D-Day and to the battle of Normandy. Upon your arrival in Normandy, you will begin by the visit of Pegasus Bridge, one of the most famous bridges in World War II that was captured by Major John Howard. There, you will make a break in a French “patisserie” enjoying one of their delicious pastries. After that, your personal driver-guide will take you to Arromanches to discover with you the remains of the artificial harbor (Mulberry) that played a vital part in the success of the Landings. Then, you will go to the German coastal artillery battery of Longues sur Mer that formed a part of Germany’s Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications. The battery was completed by April 1944 and consisted of four 152 mm navy guns, each protected by a large concrete casemate, a command post, shelters for personnel and ammunition and several defensive machine-gun emplacements. It is now time for your lunch break in a very nice, typical French restaurant or brasserie (lunch not included in the price). After this culinary break, your tour will continue with a visit of the American Cemetery of Colleville, that covers 172,5 acres and that contains the graves of 9387 soldiers, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations (visit of the Memorial, the wall of Missing, the Chapel, many special tombs – Medals of Honor etc). Your visit will be followed with a stop at the American Interpretive Center where you will have the opportunity to view remarkable films and documentaries relating the DDAY and Battle of Normandy operations. The next private visit will take place in the famous Omaha Beach that since June 6th 1944 has become the symbol of the sacrifice of American soldiers in WWII. The primary objective of Omaha was to secure a beachhead of some 5 miles between Port en Bessin and the Vire River, linking up with the British landings at Gold Beach and the Americans at Utah Beach. The defenses were unexpectedly strong and inflicted extremely heavy casualties on landing US troops. Small penetrations were eventually achieved by groups of survivors making improvised assaults, scaling the bluffs between the most heavily defended points. By the end of the day, 2 small isolated footholds had been won, which were subsequently exploited against weaker defenses further inland, thus achieving the original D-Day objectives over the following days. The last private guided visit of the day will be the Pointe du Hoc, where the Germans had built 6 casemates to house a battery of 155 mm guns. Situated between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, these guns threatened Allied landings, risking heavy casualties in the landing forces. The US 2nd Ranger Battalion under the command of Colonel James Rudder was given the task of destroying the strongpoint from the sea. Their heroic struggle and final success has entered into history. You will spend the night in Bayeux (hotel not included in the price) where, if you need, we could book your dinner in a restaurant or brasserie.

On the second day, you will discover the “Marvel of the Occident”: the world renowned Mont Saint Michel, some say that it is to the sea what the pyramid of Keops is to the desert, some describe it as an imaginary manor-house, stupefying as a dream palace, others say that is not dry land and yet not the sea. Surrounded by the sea with one of the highest tidal ranges in the world the Mont St. Michel is simply unique. On the Mont St. Michel, the tour will begin with a private guided visit of the Abbey founded by Aubert at the beginning of the 8th Century and that became a major cultural and pilgrimage center during the Middle Ages. You will admire the Romanesque Church, the Gothic “Marvel” with the monk’s Cloisters and Refectory, the Knights Room, the Guest Room, the Undercroft, the Refectory, as well as various chapels. After that, we will book your lunch in a very nice, typical French restaurant or brasserie (lunch not included in the price) before making a stroll through the steep-sided narrow streets of the town and its ramparts. On the way back, your personal driver-guide will do a stop in the town of Villedieu les Poêles (if time), famous for its numerous craftsmen-shops selling exceptional creations of leather goods, lace, copper and tin goods. Then, he will drive you back to your hotel in Paris. This tour due to the VIP treatment that we provide will leave you without doubt outstanding memories of these 2 days in Normandy. (Entrance tickets included)