Sword Beach — Attraction in Metropolitan France

Being a WWII history buff visiting the landing beaches was the highlight of our 10 days Normandy-Brittany tour. In order to visit them properly we split all 5 beaches into 2 days. The Sword beach was the first we visited as it is the most eastern one and closest to Caen (20 min drive) which was our base. It turned out to be a huge disappointment. When you type Sword beach in Google maps they will take you to a nothing to see spot on the beach. Luckily, you bypass the sun clock and Churchill tank at a small round about, so you know you're in the area and we returned to it. There - NO sort of any info about the landing sites, directions, monuments - nothing, so we drove around trying to find something by ourselves. Along the way we asked the locals - some of them pointed us to various directions as the monuments are scattered all around. Having visited all 5 landing beaches, I must conclude that Sword and Gold are the most neglected ones in terms of signage, tribute and respect of those guys who gave their lives there, while Juno, Omaha and Utah did a great job - easy, pleasant and informative to visit which you can read about in...

We all know what went on here in WWII. Sobering, and for my mother and I it was pretty poignant as we stood in quiet contemplation. The memorials, plaques and information are respectful and it's worth knowing some French and English to read about the soldiers who unlocked the shores of Northern France in 1944.

But time moves on and, thankfully, it is now simply a place to relax and have fun. The memories and gratitude will always remain, and our fallen can listen to the joy and laughter of freedom and frivolity from their final resting place.

Thank you to those involved in Operation Neptune, and the whole of...

We visited Sword Beach because we were following the Dday landings coastal route. Mistakenly we had assumed there would not be as much commercialism along this route. It's a seaside destination with all the attributes of tourists and holiday makers. It's clean and tidy. We parked alongside the beach road (free oarking). It's history is far better seen and experienced (from the history side of things) at one of the museums, or memorials further...