Campsite situated just a few yards from the Normandy D-Day beaches
Le Cormoran campsite is located opposite the Normandy World War II D-Day beaches and just a few yards from Utah Beach. It adds a historical dimension to your holiday at the campsite where you’ll get chance to discover the secrets and stories surrounding the liberation of Normandy.
Le Cormoran campsite at the heart of D-Day
Just under 6 miles from Sainte-Mère-Eglise and a third of a mile from Utah beach, the campsite is situated within easy reach of the places that made World War II D-Day history. Take the time to discover them during your holiday in one of our mobile homes or on one of our pitches.
On the seacoast, Le Cormoran is the ideal location for combining sightseeing and relaxation on a 5-star campsite. Spend the day exploring these historical sites then come back to relax in a mobile home or in our indoor heated swimming pool.
At the heart of the Cotentin region, you’ll be staying in the ideal setting for a holiday that all the family will enjoy. Take the pick from our large range of mobile homes for a top quality D-Day break.
D-Day beaches and sites – Normandy at the heart of your holiday
Explore the memorial sites. Beaches, vestiges and commemorative monuments will tell you the story of the events that took place on June 6th 1944. Due to its incredible logistics, the Normandy D-Day landings, code named Overlord, is considered one of the biggest military operations in history. Create your own D-Day tour along the Normandy coast thanks to the differents sites suggested below.
The D-Day beaches
Along the 5 D-Day landing beaches, on these long stretches of sand as well on the coast, you will see many historical elements related to D-Day. Monuments and memorial stones, but also vestiges of artificial ports, blockhouses and other fortifications as well as restored vehicles and weapons.
Utah beach
Situated in the Manche county, Utah beach was the code name given to Madeleine beach for the landing of the US troops. The combined forces of naval, air and airborne troops lead the Allies to victory enabling them to establish a beachhead at the base of the Cotentin county.
Choose your campsite near to Utah Beach.
Utah beach possesses the very first commemorative monument to be erected on the D-Day beaches. It was inaugurated on November 11th 1944, in honour of the US 1st engineer special brigade.
You will find on display outside around the D-Day landing museum (musée du Débarquement) in Sainte Marie du Mont several commemorative monuments and vestiges, such as canons and tanks, as well as landing craft.
- US M4A3E8 Sherman tank
- Utah Beach US D-Day landing monument
- Memorial dedicated to the 90th US infantry division which landed on June 6th 1944.
- US Marine Monument, a memorial which commemorates the deployment of the US marines during the invasion.
- First stone marker “Borne 0” (kilometre 0) of Liberty Road,
- US anti-aircraft canon which belonged to the 16th AAA Gun Battalion,
- Monument of the 4th US infantry division,
- Landing craft: US LCVP type vehicle
Omaha beach
The US troops that land on Omaha beach meet with a well-trained German defense that is intact. It is the D-Day beach, nicknamed “Bloody Omaha”, that is to record the greatest number of losses.
- Beacon monument at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, situated in the little hamlet on the sea front called “Les Moulins”. Two frescos pay homage to the US troops, one dedicated to the 1st infantry division, the other to the 116th Regimental Combat Team of the 29th infantry division
- Monument “Les braves” (the brave) in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer – steel and stainless steel structures sculpted for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings
- Native American Tribes Memorial – pays tribute to the bravery of the native American soldiers who took part in Operation Neptune
- Blockhouse WN 65 (Wiederstand Nest 65). A PAK 5 cm anti-tank canon can be seen in the shelter
Gold Beach
Situated on the coast of the Calvados county between Asnelles and Ver-sur-Mer, Gold beach is where the British troops land. They make the greatest advance of D-Day, leading to the liberation of Bayeux the very next day.
- Monument dedicated to the memory of the artillery regiments of the 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division in Ver-sur-Mer
- Vestiges of Mulberry port: an artificial port built on the Normandy coast which enabled the transport of supplies until Cherbourg’s deep water port was recaptured.
Juno Beach
The Canadian 3rd infantry division land on the section known as Juno beach between Graye-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Penetrating the enemy line is difficult in this zone, particularly at Courseulles port which is heavily defended. They are halted the next day near Caen by German reinforcements.
- Vestiges of the Atlantic Wall defence system: beach obstacles, British canon, fortifications
- Commemorative monuments in homage to the Canadian soldiers
Sword Beach
Sword beach is the most eastern of the D-Day beaches. It is located on the coast of the towns of Hermanville and Colleville where the amphibious attack of the Anglo-canadian troops along with that of the French commandos took place.
- The famous “dragon’s teeth” which blocked the advance of tanks
- The Flame (“la Flamme”), a memorial to French commandos
- The monument commemorating the liberation of Lion-sur-Mer in tribute to the British navy
- Tank from the 77th Armoured Engineer Squadron
Vestiges of the D-Day landings to visit in the Manche and Calvados counties
Visit the vestiges of D-Day in Normandy and discover the everyday life of soldiers at the time.
Crisbecq Battery
Saint-Marcouf-de-l’Isle
10 minutes from the campsite
Experience the extraordinary atmostphere of the Crisbecq battery. Over almost 10 acres, 21 bunkers and other blockhouses restored with original equipment are waiting to help you retrace the life of soldiers on the front. Take a walk in the trenches which connect them and relive the experiences of the troops.
La Pointe du Hoc
- Cricqueville-en-bessin
45 minutes from the campsite
Situated between Utah and Omaha beach, visit the command post, the shelters and the casemates of the German artillery battery at the Pointe du Hoc. Download the mobile phone app « Pointe du Hoc » at the start of your visit that will guide you and provide you with a mine of information about how the German defence was organised and its own D-Day story.
German battery at Longues-sur-Mer
- Longues-sur-Mer
1 hour from the campsite
Situated at the top of the cliff on the sea front, the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer is a strategic defence position of the Atlantic Wall. It is composed of a command post and four casemates which are still equipped with their original 150 mm canons of the time.
Juno beach park
- Courseulles-sur-Mer
1 hour 10 minutes from the campsite
Several vestiges of the defence system that made up the Atlantic Wall are to be found on a mile-long stretch of the coast. Weapons and equipment of the period will take you back to 1944 so you can gain a better understanding of the D-Day story. These historic elements have been preserved thanks to the advance of the dunes on the coast over the years.
Pegasus Bridge
- Bénouville
1 hour 20 minutes from the campsite
Located between Caen et Ouistreham, the Pegasus Bridge passes over the Caen canal. It was named in honour of the British airborne forces whose emblem is the winged horse Pegasus. Visit the Pegasus Memorial museum and see the original bridge, as well as hundreds of objects and photos of the period, to get an insight into the missions of the British 6th Airborne Division on D-Day.
World War II military cemeteries in Normandy
A number of military cemeteries are to be found in Normandy that pay tribute to the many soldiers of all nationalities that fought during the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. These emotionally-charged places, with their many headstones representing every man that fell during combat, can only encourage each of us to celebrate peace.
27 military cemeteries can be seen in Normandy, of which the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer is the most-visited of the D-Day cemeteries. This place of homage and reflection in honour of the US troops welcomes you just next to Omaha Beach. A magnificent 23′ bronze statue towers over the centre of the Memorial. You can also discover here four maps of the military operations of June 6th 1944 that retrace the series of attacks carried out by the Allied forces.
The Bayeux Commonwealth cemetery is the largest British cemetery present on French soil. It houses 4 648 graves from both sides. Situated 7 miles from Sainte-Mère-Église, the Orglandes German military cemetery contains 10 152 graves.
Take a look at the D-Day beaches guide to see the list of military cemeteries in Lower Normandy.
