The visitor centre
Opened in 2007, it tells the story of D-Day through faces: letters, objects, filmed testimonies. You come out with names, which changes everything when you walk among the headstones.
Bessin · Calvados
DiscoverThe American Cemetery at CollevilleNine thousand graves above Omaha Beach, fifteen minutes from the campsite
The American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer overlooks Omaha Beach, ten kilometres from your cottage.
Seventy hectares granted in perpetuity to the United States, nine thousand three hundred and eighty-eight graves aligned facing the Atlantic, and silence. It is the most visited site in Normandy, and one of the most understated. The visitor centre, further up, traces the journeys of a few soldiers: allow a good hour before heading down to the graves and the memorial.
Good to know
The route
From the campsite- 10 kmaway
- 15 mindriving
- D514 then D517the route
Along the coast via Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes: a ten-minute drive, with a free, supervised car park at the entrance.
On site
How long to allow- 45 minthe visitor centre
- 45 minthe memorial and the graves
- 20 minthe lookout over Omaha
Free entry. Appropriate dress required, and a flag-lowering ceremony every day at closing time.
Useful to know
Planning your visit- Freeentry and visitor centre
- Closingflag ceremony
- Dressappropriate attire required
Access is free of charge, parking included. Plan to arrive at least two hours before closing to see the visitor centre and then the graves.
On site
Four stops
The memorial and the Garden of the Missing
A stone colonnade, a seven-metre bronze statue, and the wall engraved with the names of the one thousand five hundred and fifty-seven missing. The reflecting pool mirrors the Normandy sky; it is the heart of the site.
The graves
Nine thousand three hundred and eighty-eight white marble crosses and Stars of David, perfectly aligned from whatever angle. Among them, two of the Niland brothers, and three women.
The lookout over Omaha Beach
A staircase leads down from the cliff to the beach. Seen from above, you realise what the climb meant on the morning of 6 June.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the American Cemetery
Which campsite should I choose to visit the American Cemetery?+
Camping Portland, a five-star Yelloh! Village, is in Port-en-Bessin-Huppain: 10 km and 15 minutes' drive. You sleep facing the Channel, between Bayeux and Omaha Beach, in a fully equipped cottage, with a heated water park on site.
How much time should I allow for the American Cemetery?+
45 minutes for the visitor centre. 45 minutes for the memorial and the graves. 20 minutes for the lookout over Omaha.
How do I get to the American Cemetery from the campsite?+
D514 then D517: 10 km, a 15-minute drive. Along the coast via Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes: a ten-minute drive, with a free, supervised car park at the entrance.
Also worth seeing
Our other day trips
Visiting Bayeux
10 km · 12 min from the campsite
Visiting Caen
40 km · 40 min from the campsite
Visiting Mont-Saint-Michel
130 km · 1 h 45 from the campsite
The D-Day beaches
5 km · 10 min from the campsite
Discovering Port-en-Bessin
1.5 km · 5 min from the campsite
Visiting Arromanches-les-Bains
10 km · 15 min from the campsite
The Pointe du Hoc
20 km · 25 min from the campsite
The Longues-sur-Mer batteries
6 km · 10 min from the campsite
Omaha Beach Golf Club
2 km · 5 min from the campsite
Your base camp in Normandy
5-star cottages and a 2,020 m² heated water park, in Port-en-Bessin facing the Channel.
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