Normandy American Cemetery And Memorial

This is the first American cemetery in Europe. 9387 American soldiers, most of whom passed away during the D-Day Landings and ensuing operations, are buried here.

The statue Spirit of American Youth 

The wall reads:

1941-1945

IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE

OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS

AND IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICES

THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Pointe du Hoc

Pointe du Hoc is one of the D-Day Landings points along the Normandy coast on the 6th of June 1944. The US Second Ranger Battalion were dropped here at 5.30 am. Their mission was to scale the 30 meters high cliffs in the dark and attack the German coastal defence guns and to destroy them.

A German bunker

Pointe du Hoc is now an open air museum in memory of the D-Day Landings. This 13 hectares site has been ceded permanently to the US Government on 11th January 1979

Musee de Normandie

We walked pass this small museum on our way towards the sea in Pointe du Hoc. The musuem displays the utensils used in the traditional life of the region.  

Just wondering what he is looking at sitting there every day

Memorial de Caen

This museum was built in 1988 to commemorate the events leading up to D-Day.

Eglise St Pierre

This church was built in 13th-14th century and dedicated to St Peter. A fine example of  the architectural transition from Gothic to Renaissance

Caen

In the 11th century Caen became the favoured residence of William the Conqueror and Queen Matilda. Much of the town was destroyed during the Battle of Normandy in 1944

 The Abbaye aux Hommes is now a secondary school

Rouen

Rouen is the historic capital of Normandy in northern France on the River Seine. Rouen was one of the prosperous cities in Medieval Europe.  It was here that Joan of Arc was burnt to death in 1431

Notre Dame Cathedral with its Tour de Beurre  (butter tower). Monet has painted this cathedral many times

By Monet in 1894

Rue du Gros Horloge, the pedestrianized street

Gros Horloge the astronomical clock

Rouen is famous for its surviving half-timbered buildings

Statue of Joan of Arc

This is the site where Joan of Arc was burnt to death

Moulin Rouge

We watched the 9.00 pm show. Near naked women dancing on stage. Enjoyed that.

Jardin du Luxembourg

This park was originally owned by the Duke of Luxembourg, hence its name. It was later purchased by Marie de Medici and  was designed according to her native Italian style. The French Senate is housed in the Luxembourg Palace here

Sacre Coeur

This Basilica was built on the highest point of the hill in 1875 according to the Romanesque -Byzantine  architectural style. Unfortunately we were unable to enter the basilica because there was a mass. The dome of this basilica is the second highest view point after Eiffel Tower

Montmartre

This is a little hill situated in the northern part of Paris. We took a stroll up the steep and narrow cobble stones street up the hill. There are restaurants, bars and a lively market place with a lot of artists. The main attraction here is the Sacre Coeur Basilica.

La Defense

La Defense is the major business district of Paris. This purpose built business district enables high rises to be built here without encroaching on the historical centre of Paris

La Grande Arche

This structure looks like a four dimensional hypercube projected in our three dimensional world

Defense Palace

Musee du Louvre metro station

Sortie means exit in french

Musee du Louvre again

We went for lunch near Musee du Louvre and again passed the museum to go the Metro station.

The Glass Pyramid designed by I M Pei