Description: The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach is the largest Allied cemetery in Normandy with 9,387 graves on a 170 acre site. It is surpassed in number size only by the German cemetery at La Cambe between Bayeux and Isigny with 21,300 graves, athough this site is only 7 acres. The cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach where so many Americans lost their lives. It is beautifully maintained and a visit here is a very moving experience. A very impressive new Visitor centre slightly apart from the Cemetery visitor centre opened during 2007 with a fascinating museum packed full of facts and newsreel items.

Location: Near Colleville-sur-Mer on the D514 coast road, approx 19kms NW of Bayeux

General Information: Open daily from 09.00-17.00 except Dec 25th and Jan 1st. There is no entrance charge. Info in many languages is available at the visitor centre.

Website: http://www.abmc.gov/home.php

Our Recommendations: The extremely large car park would indicate that this can be a very busy site so plan your visit carefully. We visited out of season and it was fairly quiet.

For the Children: It is possible to get down to the beach from the cemetery grounds. At the time of our visit the gates to access the paths down to the beach were locked, but this did not seem to deter the public who simply climbed over them. It is also possible to access the beach to the east of the new visitor centre by leaving the car park and heading down towards the sea.

 

Here’s more information to make the most of your visit to Normandy: