D-Day Memorial Tour of Normandy

Arrive in Paris and and begin your D-Day remembrance experience with the city’s relationship to World War II. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers for traditional French cuisine. (D)

Reveal Paris’s past as we head to the historic district of Montmartre for a walking tour visiting the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur and the Latin Quarter where we will see the Notre Dame Cathedral from the outside. After lunch (on your own), we will enjoy a guided tour of the Louvre Museum which includes the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and the Crown Jewels of France. The remainder of the day is at leisure and we suggest a stroll along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe where you can climb to the top for a bird’s eye-view of the city. (B)

This morning, we leave Paris for the quaint port village of Honfleur, which was spared from the damage of WWII. The colorful facades of the buildings here are said to have inspired painters like Claude Monet. After lunch, we will visit the famous wooden church of St. Catherine which was constructed by shipbuilders in the 15th century, and then visit the Vieux Bassin, or old Harbor, where the Seine River meets the English Channel. After checking into our hotel, the rest of the day is on your own and the perfect time to dine out with fellow travelers at a local restaurant. (B,D)

After breakfast, we head to the magical Abby-crowned island of Mont Saint-Michel, one of the most iconic attractions in France besides the Louve and Versailles. Our local guide will explain the history of this fairytale site that goes back to 7-8 AD. After a tour of the site, we will have plenty of free time to stroll through the abbey, walk the grounds, take in the views from fortification walls, and wander the narrow medieval streets of this enchanting town. A lunch (on own) spot not to be missed is La Mere Poulard which is famous for its omelets made in long-handed copper skillets over open flame. (B,D)

After Breakfast, we head toward the beaches of Normandy. Our first stop will be at the Caen Memorial War Museum which has excellent displays on WWII including vintage film, photos, and artifacts. For lunch, we will stop at an estate and farm where we will enjoy a typical Norman lunch and sample some Calvadoes for which this region is famous. Our final stop of the day is Utah Beach, Sainte Mere Eglise and visit to the Utah Beach Landing Museum. (B,L)

Today, we make our way to Omaha Beach, one of the most pivotal places of WWII. Meeting our local guide we will explore the Arromanches and the Omaha Beach Memorial and Museum. Continue along the Calvados coastline, which provided the theater of operations for the invasion. Your day includes a visit to the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer as well as the German defensive emplacements at Pointe du Hoc. After lunch at a local restaurant we return to Honfleur. (B,L)

After breakfast, we depart Honfleur for Paris where upon arrival we make our way up the Eiffel Tower for the most grand view of the city. Later, we check-into our hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

Today, we meet our local guide that will lead us on a journey of discovery to the time of the German occupation and the patsy government of Vichy. We will see the sites and hear the stories of what life was like under the Nazi regime and learn of the liberation of Paris through visits to Les Invalides, the Luxembourg Gardens, Vel d’Hiv, Hôtel de Ville and more. This evening we have a farewell dinner on the Seine River where the City of Light is aglow before us. (B,D)

This morning, we say au revoir to France as tour ends. (B)