Visiting Normandy Beaches for the First Time | 3-Day Itinerary

The best information to get the most out of your time at the Normandy Beaches.
Full Itinerary with Resource Links Here: www.chrisandellen.com/detaile...
3-Day itinerary to visiting the D-Day beaches for the first time:
Day 1:
Arrive in Caen via train from Paris and rent a car.
Visit the Utah Beach Museum, and then the Airbourne Museum in St. Mere Eglise.
St Mere Eglise is the perfect base for visiting the Normandy beaches.
Enjoy the restaurant called, Auberge le John Steele.
Day 2:
Visit Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery and the German Cemetery
Save money by visiting the beaches in the off-season.
We’ve visited in the winter, spring, and fall and enjoyed the sites each time.
Day 3:
Pointe du Hoc + Arromanches on your way back to Caen
These WW2 sites are on your way back when returning your rental car in Caen.
Pointe du Hoc shows the absolute magnitude of war better than any other site.
Arromanches was only meant to be temporary - 76 years later, many pieces of the harbor still remain there today and still do their job of calming the waters.
Now, while we’ve laid out a quick trip for you here, we highly recommend diving into the non-war-related culture of Normandy as well.
Allow yourself at least 3 to 5 days for visiting Normandy. That way you don’t feel rushed and can embrace the relaxed, peace-loving culture.
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[@rosscooper6192]

Great to see appreciation for the British and Canadian beaches and museums 👍

[@MrEsMysteriesMagicks]

The guy hanging from the steeple was Pvt. John Steele. His story was told in the book and movie The Longest Day. In the movie, he was played by Red Buttons.

[@tomasshanahan3265]

Good work. Deserves a higher ranking in KZbin, to be honest.

[@ChrisandEllen]

Thank you! ☺️

[@juliah182]

Great video! Thank you so much and will definitely use your tips for our trip this Summer!

[@klmrehl1213]

Thank you for this video, very informative

[@VaughnLower]

Thank you for this video!

[@swiftassociates]

I really appreciate the fast editing getting right to the point in your commentary. Thank you!

[@ChrisandEllen]

Thanks! 😊

[@platinumfox6800]

Très bon!!!

[@abulrex_h4771]

y’all deserve much more subs

[@joshuagregoire7410]

My wife and I going next June... Great video!

[@101RiskMan]

Really under subscribed channel. That's a really neat trip idea

[@relaxingsilentfilms-LosAngeles]

we are planning a similar trip to the area.. good video

[@SuperChogan]

Good video. Going soon with a buddy and will revisit this video nearer the time. Thank you

[@ChrisandEllen]

Glad it was helpful! Have fun in Normandy!

[@thegrumpydragon7601]

Underrated video

[@ChrisandEllen]

Thanks! Glad that you liked it!

[@TravelingisFREEDOM]

This seems to be a very interesting place, I hope I can visit sometime in the future. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much! And please keep up the great job! Subscribed!!

[@ChrisandEllen]

Thanks so much!! 😀

[@relaxingsilentfilms-LosAngeles]

we are subscribed.. we booked airfare for July. reviewing your video again.

[@Motourev]

We did an 8 video series tour of all the same places in Normandy. Such a special place 👍🏻

[@EEMLLVR]

Great video, very educated, love it! I suggest saying « the Allies » rather than « the Americans », and « rescue democratic governments » rather than « save democracy », do you see what I mean? To avoid the Good/ Evil rhetoric. I think of how it impacts how we view the current conflicts

[@treeherder2201]

Great channel! How have I not subbed sooner? Subbed!

[@ChrisandEllen]

Aww, thank you!

[@josephcarbonaro5186]

Nice video. Very helpful. One correction, if I may.... Perhaps you're right about Ike eating at that place (3:13 in your video), but the picture you show is of Omar Bradley.

[@maitlandsinalice]

Great video guys. Very informative. Looking to visit Normandy in May, but really need to get away, and as soon as Australia allows outward travel (literally locked in since March 2020) I'll head over there. Cross fingers ban lifted by end of 2021, so maybe Feb 2022 I'll be in Normandy and following your footsteps. The Castle looks awesome to stay at too.

[@ChrisandEllen]

Thanks - Glad it was helpful! I hope you're able to make it to Normandy this year! It's such a wonderful region 💕

[@lorddaver5729]

@@ChrisandEllen Why no mention of America's allies who were also involved in the Normandy landings? There were in fact 5 invasion beaches in all on D-Day. 73,000 American soldiers went ashore at Utah and Omaha Beaches. But over 80,000 British and Canadian troops went ashore at Gold (British), Juno (Canadian) and Sword (British) beaches at the same time. Yet you only mention the 2 American beaches. Why?

[@tomjordan3135]

@@lorddaver5729 I understand what you’re saying but I think that your question is unnecessarily challenging. I don’t think they were showing favouritism, it’s just that Omaha and Utah are the most famous beaches from the landings, and they were the American zones. British troops landed on Gold, whilst Juno and sword were a combination on British and Canadian. I agree with you that it is right to call out and show respect to the British and Canadian troops but I don’t think they were showing any disrespect by not doing so, just that they weren’t at those beaches, and I think they did a real good job of showing respect to the German loss of life. Really interesting video and hoping to go with the missus this summer, thanks for posting.

[@lorddaver5729]

@@ChrisandEllen Why don't you answer my query?

[@lorddaver5729]

@@ChrisandEllen Still waiting for an answer. Why no mention of the fact that British and Canadian troops also fought on D-Day? Don't you realise how insulting it is to ignore the contribution of your country's allies. And here are some figures to think about. The US lost 415,000 troops in WW2. Britain lost 450,000. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people, military and civilians. 80% of German soldiers killed during the war died on the Russian Front.

[@SWR112]

Not been yet but the Mulberry harbours were a brilliant invention. At the Point - the scaling American Rangers didn’t find any artillery, the Germans had moved the Guns only a week before.

[@katazack]

They found and destroyed the cannons a short distance away from the cliffs.

[@32shumble]

I'd say that the Pegasus Bridge museum is unmissable. And, if you had time - Hillman.

[@Lemurai]

I tried communicating with them in my best Louisiana creole, lol! Alas it was not enough, though they understood all the root words, however, luckily I happened to cross paths with a Haitian man in Marseille, and we were able to talk to one another, he missed his calling because he turned out to be a great tour guide! I usually avoid war memorials or military tributaries no matter where in the world I am, I think they are depressing & the energy is oppressive, especially the ones in Japan, Korea & the Philippines, not something I want on my mind while vacationing. But Normandy is a beautiful area.

[@lifeunscripted4735]

What's the name of that chateau that's cheaper than the Holiday Inn?

[@rizkyztl2290]

Can i reupload your video?

[@carriewilson1419]

Beautiful castle stay. I looked it up and it said it was closed now 2024. I'd love to stay here

[@ChrisandEllen]

Yeah, they closed to guests recently, unfortunately. However, you can find castle stays all around Normandy on Airbnb or by searching castles on google maps with the hotel filter on.

[@carriewilson1419]

@@ChrisandEllen ok thanks for the tips. Greatly appreciate it!

[@danvu2011]

June 06 my birth day

[@klmrehl1213]

How much to rent a car?

[@grdsinclairgrd]

Great Video. Do you know where to rent a car, and do they rent automatic transmissions? Thank you

[@ChrisandEllen]

Thanks! We normally rent a car from Caen, Rouen, or Paris. And yes, they rent automatics but if you choose one of the cities outside of Paris, then I recommend reserving in advance to make sure the car is there when you arrive since they have less automatics in general.

[@Marw169]

May I ask which company you rented the car from? and if you were satisfied with that company? my girlfriend and I are planning to go to Normandy and we don't want to rent a car from some thieves :D

[@richardgawn]

Sword? Juno? Gold beaches ? Pegasus Bridge? Hillman Bunker? Merville Battery? Did I miss them in the video?

[@karminloveless6526]

Can you share the link to where you stayed? Or the name?

[@ChrisandEllen]

Absolutely! Here's the website: www.islemarie.fr/

[@AlainNaigeon]

Views are much short !!

[@nordiskkatt]

Oof, to my intense regret, I had to give up 1:22 into this video - not because I wanted to! It seems like a really informative and to-the-point video, which is great! - but the "shaky cam" effect and the rapid cuts made me literally dizzy and I ended up feeling sort of nauseous. Maybe I'm just getting old...

[@jacqueline23788]

what about this accent maybe he think is talking french? its more lgermanic polish libanese? we don t know lol)

[@reggriffiths5769]

"Visiting Normandy Beaches..." It's a grand title that encompasses what took place there on 6th June 1944....but wait, where was mention of the British, the Canadians and the French who outnumbered the Americans? Where was mention made of the specialist tanks provided by the British? Where was mentioned the giant caissons designed, built and laid off the beaches by the British? According to the Mr Chris, this was the first day of the war - really? It might have been for the vainglorious Yanks, but the Brits and Canucks had been fighting for four years before D-Day! I don't have a problem with any country honouring its war dead, but I do have a problem when they glorify their own and don't give their allies a mention. However, most Americans are blind to the efforts of everyone but themselves - it's why I use the term "Vainglorious." Being American, you can guarantee that they know all about Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers, because movies are all they know, while the realities of war they've never thought about or learned. Ask an American what he/she knows about WW2, and the first thing they'll say is "Omaha." With a bit of prodding they'll add "Utah," and perhaps given enough time they might mention Bastogne. Ask them about WW1 and they either have a blank stare, or even say "Wasn't that a war between the US and Germany?" Ignorant people, vainglorious people, and people who think Normandy/D-Day was all about Americans. They love to see their US flag flying in a foreign land, but totally ignore all the other nations' flags - which they mostly wouldn't recognise anyway! What was it the girl said? - "US troops had the highest casualties." Well actually, in terms of unit numbers, pro-rata the Canadians had the highest casualty rate. The Americans at Omaha had a hard day - a day that would have been a lot easier if their commanders had used the specialist tanks offered by the British; but the Yanks didn't like them, and wanted to do their own thing. As most military historians agree, it was a wrong decision which cost them dearly. So this particular video is little different to the many others produced by Americans. Normandy/D-Day was not an all-American invasion; in fact the British and Canadians where the first to gain their objectives while the US were still trying to get off the beach. It really is past the time when Americans began to realise that they were not the sole winners of the invasion, nor was it on their efforts alone. The big difference between the Americans and Allies, is that the Allies have never bragged about their successes. Another difference is that the British and her Commonwealth Allies never forget to honour EVERYONE - something the Yanks rarely do! So this video is not about the Normandy Beaches, it's all about the Americans at Omaha. Call it what it is, and not hide it under a false title.

[@ChrisandEllen]

Feel free to make your own video. I see you are not a content creator but have many opinions on content creation. This is a YT video, not an encyclopedia of everything that happened. Feel free to hop into the arena instead of wagging a finger from the sidelines. Our American audience typically has 3 days, and the logistics of visiting it all is not possible. You would know this if you ever went here, a place you have so many opinions about.

[@reggriffiths5769]

@@ChrisandEllen No, my friend, you are not an encyclopedia on anything, not even your great American history. Content creation is not the topic here, however much you wish to sidestep the issue. No-one said anything about "visiting it all" or the logistics - neither of which take more than seconds to pay tribute to an ally. So you cannot deny anything I stated in my comments. It's all about American effort, American glory, American casualties. As for my "being there," I've spent more than fifty years as a military historian, lectured on the subject, spent years walking the battlefields and guiding groups to them, so I think I have a good enough grounding to comment as I see fit. YI know just about every inch of the battlefields in Northern France and Belgium, so don't presume to think you know better, for you have shown how little you know, as for example putting it on record that D-Day was the "first day of the war" ...a brilliant show of your ignorance and lack of education. If you can read, I suggest you try reading a few historical accounts of the US and its military. You may discover that the US has never won a war on its own - or without allies to help it. You pulled out of Korea leaving your allies in the lurch; you were kicked out of Mogadishu by gangs of untrained rebels; you were licked out of Vietnam by a supposedly inferior army; you ran out when the fighting was done in Iraq, leaving your allies to clean up the mess; you were made a laughing stock at the Bay of Pigs for your incompetence; and again - in Afghanistan, you ran out on your allies when the going got too tough for you. So much for ""The Greatest Army in the world" claimed by most ill-informed Americans. Yes, my friend, walk around the battlefields, and wherever you go the Americans have planted their little flag - even in places where they never set foot! go to Juno and see the American flag flying above all the others, yet the Yanks were never there! Go to Pegasus Bridge to see your flag in pride of place - but the Americans were never there! By all means honour your dead - the Brits honour them as well; but you sir, along with many of your compatriots dishonour the British and Commonwealth dead by ignoring them entirely - just so long as you glorify your own. It's little wonder that the Brits have little love for the Americans, for the Americans only love themselves, and you've halped verify that with your self-glorifying, myopic account. And your best response? "You're not a content creator! ...Wagging a finger from the sidelines." What a load of BS from someone who thinks he's produced some great video creation, but can't accept the criticism. You are one big joke my friend.

[@hatemkaourma4672]

Not the American but allies

[@devrod5862]

if only we could learn from history, Jesus Christ, the only way to the kingdom of heaven, freedom from sin, live and obey Him all the way to the end.

[@HaErBeSo]

Too erratic.

[@ChrisandEllen]

Welcome to YT 😊

[@HaErBeSo]

@@ChrisandEllen it’s your public that matters, not the medium.

[@ChrisandEllen]

@@HaErBeSo others seem to like it 🤷‍♂️can’t please everyone

[@HaErBeSo]

@@ChrisandEllen Fair point, but looking at the number of followers, you might want to evaluate your approach (assuming you want more followers).

[@terrym9435]

Content is good but I couldn't watch it cuz too much camera shifting

[@jean-pierrecharpentier2546]

Nice video, but... no! the Anglo-Americans didn't come to France to save democracy or the freedom of the people. They landed at Stalin's request to open a second front to relieve the Red Army...

[@ChrisandEllen]

Which in turn, led to ______

[@jean-pierrecharpentier2546]

​@@ChrisandEllen ...To get rid of the Nazis (and we weren't unhappy about that!). The French will be eternally grateful for the sacrifice of the soldiers who landed in Normandy. The aim of the landings was to repel the German army, not to restore democracy, even if that was the result.

[@oxojeanpaul5943]

i m sick to look videos too quick