Never forgotten

Normandy wasn’t originally planned as a stop on our trip. I guess that’s the beauty of living in France, you can travel on a moment’s notice. After meeting many travellers who told us we couldn’t miss it, we decided to go.

It’s an easy two-hour train ride from Paris, Gare Saint-Lazare, to Normandy, Gare Caen, making it a doable day trip as well. We stayed in an Airbnb in the small town of Lion-Sur-Mer for three nights, which was the perfect amount of time for us. If you’re a World War II history buff, this is the place for you! You may even want to stay longer.

What we discovered was a region unlike any other — one that wears its history proudly, where memorials line the roads and the beaches tell stories the sea has never forgotten. We drove through grassy fields, pretty towns, and along stretches of beautiful coastline. Normandy is filled with museums, monuments, cemeteries, and historic sites. We visited in June, and there were no waits or lineups, which might be different during peak season. Plan accordingly.

These are the places we visited…

Caen Memorial Museum

We spent a few hours at the Caen Memorial Museum, which tells the story of World War II and D-Day through film, photographs, and personal accounts. The exhibits are thoughtfully designed, offering both information and space for reflection on the war’s impact.

Pegasus Bridge & Pegasus Museum

This, I learned, is where it all began: the “coup de main” operation on the Benouville Bridge, later renamed Pegasus Bridge in honour of the British airborne troops. Just after midnight on June 6, 1944, three gliders carrying Major John Howard and his men landed within yards of the bridge. In a swift assault, they captured the bridges at Benouville and Ranville intact and sent the message “Ham and Jam” — mission accomplished.

The original Pegasus Bridge has since been replaced by a wider version to accommodate modern traffic. Today, the original rests across the road as the centrepiece of the Pegasus Museum. The museum’s exhibits — from gliders and uniforms to personal accounts of the soldiers — bring the daring assault to life.

Pegasus Museum

Merville Battery

A short drive from Pegasus Bridge is the Merville Battery Museum, another powerful reminder of the night before D-Day. This German coastal gun position, which threatened the invasion beaches, was neutralized in a pre-dawn assault by British paratroopers. Walking through the restored bunkers and trenches, we tried to imagine the chaos and courage of those early hours.

Canadian Museum at Juno Beach

The Juno Beach Centre highlights Canada’s vital role on D-Day. Exhibits share the experiences of Canadian soldiers and the challenges they faced. Standing on the shore at Juno Beach, it’s hard to imagine the battle that took place. Today, the beach is peaceful, the same sand on which the soldiers fought, yet it serves as a powerful and moving memorial.

Canadian War Cemetery

If you have time, be sure to visit and pay your respects to the soldiers at the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.

Beach time

For something lighter, the beaches are stunning. There’s also a dedicated walking route, the “Les Villas Balnéaires” loop in Lion-sur-Mer (2.4 km), where visitors can stroll and admire the seaside villas. These villas, or mansions, showcase a wide range of architectural styles (Neo‑Norman, Art Nouveau, Flemish‑inspired, etc). They almost seem out of place, yet that’s part of their charm.

You can dine in town, at a few of the beachside restaurants, or bring dinner to the beach.

Whatever your mission, Normandy offers plenty to see and do, with most sites just 30 minutes apart. We rented a car, which was easy to pick up at the train station. It’s hard to imagine the scale of D-Day, but visiting made me feel I understand it so much better. The sacrifice and loss are truly unimaginable. It was a bittersweet experience, but I’m so grateful we went.