Arromanches is one of the historic sites of the Normandy landings, notably for the artificial harbor that was built there. It was on Arromanches la plage that, during the Battle of Normandy, immediately after D-Day (June 6, 1944), the Allies established Mulberry Harbour, a temporary artificial harbor to allow the landing of heavy equipment without waiting for the capture of deep-water ports, such as those of Le Havre or Cherbourg. Although located in the center of the Gold Beach landing zone, Arromanches was spared the brunt of the fighting on D-Day.
To visit:
- D-Day Museum: Objects, weapons, photos, and uniforms are displayed in different rooms dedicated to each nation: British, Americans, and Canadians. Animated models of the pontoons and floating roads are explained by a guide, and a diorama illustrates how the artificial harbor functioned according to the tides.
A 30-minute film shot during the preparations for the landing is shown to conclude the visit.
- Arromanches 360°: Located on the clifftops of Arromanches, near the orientation table, the circular cinema overlooks the remains of the artificial harbor of Arromanches and the Seine Bay. Designed by the Caen Memorial at the request of the Lower Normandy Regional Council, the film was created by the authors of the documentary series Apocalypse: World War II. This film is a tribute to the combatants of all nations and to the 20,000 civilians killed during the battle for the liberation of Western Europe.
