The D-Day landing beaches in Normandy are a major pilgramage site for many people these days.
Perhaps surprisingly, a number of the constructions of the second world war period are still in existence at various points along the coastline, most notably the Mulbery Harbour at Aramanche although there are numerous German pillboxes (shelters) dotted along the hilltops overlooking the sea.
The code names for the various landing beaches don't, of course, correspond to the real names although you'll find signposts for Utah Beach today naturally given the number of tourists that they each attract.
Utah Beach stretches between Pouppeville and La Madeleine. The US 4th Infantry Division came ashore here at 6.30am on D-Day.
Omaha is from east of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to west of Vierville-sur-Mer. The US 1st infantry division with the 116th regiment of the 29th division landed here.
Gold Beach is east of Omaha The British 50th Infantry Division, and the 47th Royal Marine Commando, led the attack.
Juno Beach is between Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer and Courseulles-sur-Mer. This is where the 3rd Canadian Division attacked, joined by tanks from the British Hussars.
Sword beach is the easternmost of the beaches and is the other British beach, assaulted by the 3rd Division together with French and British commandos.
Naturally, there were considerable numbers of soldiers killed in the action and there are large scale cemeteries in the area. Of these, by far the largest with almost 10,000 graves is the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer which overlooks where the 1st division landed at Omaha. This is where the scene from Saving Private Ryan was filmed.
