Going to the tour de France and also visiting the D day beaches are both on my bucket list and looking at the tours itinerary next year it looks like I will be able to kill two birds with one stone. This is if course because the tour starts in Brittany.
Taking COVID out of the equation (which could throw a wrench in the works) is it advisable to do both together? If you watch the tour is it hard to find accommodation? Are the prices massively inflated? Basically, would it be feasible to visit Brittany/Normandy next year from June 26-30th? Any information or advice would be gratefully received.
Tourist at the Tour de France
No advice on the tour from me, unfortunately. However, if you could kindly let me know how the war site visits are: it's something I've been keen to do myself and would be interested in an opinion not varnished within the pages of travel mags!
And on the 7th day, the Lord said "Let there be Finn Russell".
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Chrysoprase
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I've done the Normandy beaches & associated sites twice. The first time I attempted to do them as a day trip from a family holiday in Brittany, that was OK but made for a very long day as my Dad and I tried to pack everything in. The main things I learned that day were that if you're going to try and do it all in a day then you have to do your research in advance or you'll be overwhelmed with choices and that France is big, the drive to/from Brittany took hours. (EDIT: we were staying just outside Dinan, Google says it's around a 2 hour drive from there to Caen which chimes with my memories of it).
The second time was a couple of years ago. My mate and I drove from the Hague to Caen where we based ourselves for 3 days. That allowed us to really do the sites justice. Highlights for me were Pegasus bridge and the battery at Merville, Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Pointe du Hoc, the museum at Arromanches and the beaches in general - Omaha is particularly sobering. There are some really good museums and exhibits dotted about the area and there wasn't a single thing we visited which I didn't think was worth the time.
I would highly recommend a trip to Normandy to anyone with even a passing interest in that history. If you've been thinking about doing it, then take the leap and go for it. Regardless of how long you're planning on taking to do it, putting some effort into research up front will pay dividends. Whether you're on a guided tour or doing it yourself like we did, having the background knowledge will really enrich the experience for you. Happy to answer specific questions & I'll dig out some photos if anyone's interested.
The second time was a couple of years ago. My mate and I drove from the Hague to Caen where we based ourselves for 3 days. That allowed us to really do the sites justice. Highlights for me were Pegasus bridge and the battery at Merville, Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Pointe du Hoc, the museum at Arromanches and the beaches in general - Omaha is particularly sobering. There are some really good museums and exhibits dotted about the area and there wasn't a single thing we visited which I didn't think was worth the time.
I would highly recommend a trip to Normandy to anyone with even a passing interest in that history. If you've been thinking about doing it, then take the leap and go for it. Regardless of how long you're planning on taking to do it, putting some effort into research up front will pay dividends. Whether you're on a guided tour or doing it yourself like we did, having the background knowledge will really enrich the experience for you. Happy to answer specific questions & I'll dig out some photos if anyone's interested.
I’ve watched a couple of stages of the tour and found it actually surprisingly easy. Get a map, drive to near the road, park up and walk the last bit. That hasn’t been near the start or finish of course.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
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Paddington Bear
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My advice for the Normandy battlefields would be to remember that the battle didn't end on D-Day, much as the beaches and Pegasus Bridge are incredible experiences. There's hidden gems in the Normandy countryside, and it was in the following 80/90 days that the back of the Wehrmacht was really broken.
Immediately contradicting myself though - highly recommend visiting the Longues-sur-Mer battery. Hit and disabled by gunnery from HMS Ajax at a distance of something ludicrous (I want to say 16 miles but I could be wrong). For anyone who, like me, thinks the RN get unfairly forgotten about in our War story it is a must see.
Immediately contradicting myself though - highly recommend visiting the Longues-sur-Mer battery. Hit and disabled by gunnery from HMS Ajax at a distance of something ludicrous (I want to say 16 miles but I could be wrong). For anyone who, like me, thinks the RN get unfairly forgotten about in our War story it is a must see.
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember with advantages, What feats he did that day
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clydecloggie
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Assuming that the TdF will be fully open to spectators in 2021 - forget about combining the Grand Depart with being a 'normal' tourist. Accommodation will be hard to find and at extortionate prices, and the whole area will be jam-packed, any roads linking to the route closed off all day, etc.
Your better bet would be to stay outside Brittanny, pick up the Tour when it heads east for a few days, then move into Brittany/Normandy after all the Grand Depart TdF excitement has died down.
Your better bet would be to stay outside Brittanny, pick up the Tour when it heads east for a few days, then move into Brittany/Normandy after all the Grand Depart TdF excitement has died down.
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Uncle fester
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Worth visiting a German war cemetery as well.
Very different to the allied graveyards.
Very different to the allied graveyards.
The boss (aka WIfe) and I did 4 days around Normandy, with one day as a trip to Mt. St. Michel that broke up the WW2 stuff for the most part.
As others said, if you are out that way, there is a beautiful German cemetery that overlooks Mount Saint Michel in the background, so stop there.
Take your time and map out what you really want to see.
As others said, if you are out that way, there is a beautiful German cemetery that overlooks Mount Saint Michel in the background, so stop there.
Take your time and map out what you really want to see.
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Torquemada 1420
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Brittany and Normandy very different. You won't have anywhere near as many tourists in Brittany for the Tour and so I would not expect accommodation there to change materially. Normandy a different matter: easy access from the UK plus good rail links. Can recommend Quimper as a place to stay in Brittany but it's a trek to Normandy from there.Hugo wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:16 am Going to the tour de France and also visiting the D day beaches are both on my bucket list and looking at the tours itinerary next year it looks like I will be able to kill two birds with one stone. This is if course because the tour starts in Brittany.
Taking COVID out of the equation (which could throw a wrench in the works) is it advisable to do both together? If you watch the tour is it hard to find accommodation? Are the prices massively inflated? Basically, would it be feasible to visit Brittany/Normandy next year from June 26-30th? Any information or advice would be gratefully received.
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Dinsdale Piranha
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I've been to Quimper twice. Had a good time both visits.Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:10 pmBrittany and Normandy very different. You won't have anywhere near as many tourists in Brittany for the Tour and so I would not expect accommodation there to change materially. Normandy a different matter: easy access from the UK plus good rail links. Can recommend Quimper as a place to stay in Brittany but it's a trek to Normandy from there.Hugo wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:16 am Going to the tour de France and also visiting the D day beaches are both on my bucket list and looking at the tours itinerary next year it looks like I will be able to kill two birds with one stone. This is if course because the tour starts in Brittany.
Taking COVID out of the equation (which could throw a wrench in the works) is it advisable to do both together? If you watch the tour is it hard to find accommodation? Are the prices massively inflated? Basically, would it be feasible to visit Brittany/Normandy next year from June 26-30th? Any information or advice would be gratefully received.
Ideally with the tour you want to see a stage depart, a finish and an intermediate town. Doesn't have to be the same day.
As one of the stages finishes in Fougere it might be a good place to stay.
Though it might be difficult to book a hotel
Nice castle, old town and you are close to the E3 which will take you all the way to St Lo or branch off on the E401 to Caen.
Redon-Fougere is a pretty flat stage.
Though it might be difficult to book a hotel
Nice castle, old town and you are close to the E3 which will take you all the way to St Lo or branch off on the E401 to Caen.
Redon-Fougere is a pretty flat stage.