Route The Confrontation - Ranville-Bénouville
L’Affrontement (the Confrontation) is starting in Ranville through the Bocage and is ending in Caen.
Eight itineraries in chronological sequence clearly signposted “Normandie Terre – Liberté” through whole Normandy. See an example at the beginning of this small video.
It enables the visitor to discover these history-packed places and follow the unfolding of this huge battle in the first 80 days of the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe.
01. Ranville-Bénouville
The Pegasus Memorial Museum traces the events that took place during the night of June 5th-6th 1944. The famous Pegasus Bridge, whose capture was the main objective that night, is displayed in the museum grounds.
Address: Avenue du Major Howard, 14860 Ranville, France
02. Viller-Bocage
The Battle of Villers-Bocage took place during the Second World War on 13 June 1944, one week after the Normandy Landings by the Western Allies to begin the conquest of German-occupied France. The battle was the result of a British attempt to improve their position, by exploiting a gap in the German defences west of the city of Caen. After one day of fighting in and around the small town of Villers-Bocage and a second day defending a position outside the town, the British force retired. read the whole story on Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Villers-Bocage
03. Tilly-sur-Seulles
1944 Battle of Tilly-sur-Seulles museum. Housed in a former chapel, this museum recounts a little-known yet decisive episode in the Battle of Normandy. The story of the battle for Tilly is told through display cases and information panels.
Address: Musée de la Bataille de Tilly Chapelle Notre Dame du Val 14250 Tilly-sur-Seulles
04. Saint-Martin-des-Besaces
Musee de la Percée du Bocage. The self-guided tour of the museum's eight display areas and diorama, with its light and sound effects, allows visitors to relive the combatants’ astonishing adventure during the Battle of the Hedgerows and learn about their frequently moving fate.
Address: 5 Rue du 19 Mars 1962, 14350 Saint-Martin-des-Besaces,
05. Aunay-sur-Odon
In 1944 due to its position as a crossroads, this time between Caen and Vire and between Bayeux and Falaise, the city suffered two strategic bombardments by the allies. On 12 June two waves of aircraft destroyed all of the town centre killing a hundred people. On the night of 14 to 15 June the town was totally destroyed by a new wave of bombing. The town was completely destroyed with the precarious bell tower the only remaining building. Over 25% of the inhabitants were killed.
06. Caen
Mémorial de Caen. One of the most beautiful and complete WWII museums in Western Europe. To gain an overview of the huge stakes involved, both the causes and consequences of World War Il, the Peace Memorial in Caen tells the story of the XXth century up to the end of the Cold War. Its new exhibition areas encourage visitors to think about the kind of peace they want for the Xlfilst century.
Address: Esplanade Général Eisenhower, 14050 Caen, France
