June - August 1944. After joining up the five beaches and establishing a firm beachhead covering 50 miles along the Channel coastline, the Allies proceeded to implement their plan.
Whilst the British brought pressure to bear in the Caen direction drawing the German tank divisions around the regional capital the Americans broke out from Utah towards Barneville to cut off the Cotentin Peninsula. Following the capture of the major continental port of Cherbourg in late June they attempted to break through the German defences southwards whilst at the other end of the front the British made efforts to clear the Caen sector.
The second fortnight in July saw three great successes: the liberation of Caen the capture of St-Lô and the breakthrough southwards towards Granville and Avranches. After a fruitless attempt at cutting off a section of Patton's Army in the Mortain counter-attack the Germans whose resistance was weakening began their withdrawal to the Seine. However in a great two-pronged attack by the British, Canadians and Poles in the North and the Americans and Lercler's French coming from Alençon in the south, part of two German armies were trapped in the Falaise-Chambois pocket (the 'Corridor of Death' at Montormel).
This brought the Battle of Normandy to a close at Tournai-sur-Dives on 21st August 1944. The Allies had pulled off their first victory on the continent. Three days later, they crossed the seine and entered Paris.
Curriculum Focus
Accommodation
STS offers a choice of different types of accommodation within the city and outside the city offering high standards and excellent value for money.
Château du Baffy
Merville-Franceville
Hougate
Tailleville
Port en Bessin
Our Château in Normandy
We are able to offer the Château throughout the year, including July and August.
Offering comfortable accommodation and excellent facilities for groups in an ideal setting. Official Rating: 2 Star
Capacity: 98
Location: Set in its own grounds just 2km from the picturesque village of Creully and 6km from the seaside town of Courseulles. The Château enjoys an excellent location for the discovery of the historic centre of Normandy - being only 13km from Bayeux, 11km from Arromanches and 20km from Caen.
Facilities: In the main Château there is an attractive dining room overlooking the gardens, and a comfortable lounge with bar service. The Villa Mathilde, 50m away, has its own dining room, which can be used as a classroom, a games room and a sun terrace. The Château is set in attractive grounds. There is a playing field nearby in the village. The beach resort of Courseulles is 6km away.
Accommodation: The two premises each accommodate one full coach party. The main Château building has 17 rooms divided over 2 floors. The Villa Mathilde has 16 rooms divided over 2 floors in two sections. Students are usually accommodated in 2-4 bedded rooms with some larger rooms sleeping 4-8. Bedrooms are decorated to a high standard and have private facilities.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Merville-Franceville
A small seaside resort with a magnificent stretch of golden sandy beach, located just 5km from Cabourg, one of the leading seaside resorts in the region. Close to the Merville German Battery and Shelters, the starting point for the 'Circuit du Souvenir' tour of the landing beaches and the Pegasus Bridge Museum, Merville-Franceville provides an ideal base from which to explore the whole of Normandy.
Offering comfortable accommodation and excellent facilities for groups in an ideal setting. Official Rating: Agréé Jeunesse et Sports
Capacity: 200
Location: Situated amongst the sand dunes, with access to a wide, sandy beach.
Facilities: Ground floor restaurant overlooking the sea, a large recreation room complete with stage and modern classroom facilities (can be used free of charge for short periods, longer periods to be booked in advance - fee payable). Other facilities include a bar, mini-golf, tennis court, pinball machine, table football, pool table and volleyball. Discos can be arranged every evening. An outdoor heated swimming pool is available. (Opening details on request)
Accommodation: Bedrooms accommodate a maximum of 4 people, in single beds. All rooms have private facilities except for five pairs of rooms of which each pair shares a shower and toilet.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Hougate
An attractive seaside resort situated on the Côte Fleurie, 4km from Cabourg, 14km from Deauville and only 29km from Caen. The resort has a large sandy beach and is a busy small town.
This attractive traditional building has been sympathetically converted into a holiday centre. Official Rating: Agréé Jeunesse et Sports
Capacity: 70 Location: Located in its own grounds just 50m from the seafront with it's wide sandy beach and within easy walking distance of the town centre.
Facilities: The centre has its own attractive bright restaurant, meeting rooms, small lounges, table tennis and TV.
Accommodation: Students are accommodated in 3-6 bedded rooms in single beds and all rooms have private facilities.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Tailleville
Tailleville is a traditional rural Normandy hamlet located just 3km from the sea and landing beaches. A good base for groups who wish to explore the Calvados region.
A traditional 19th century "Manoir" building which has been recently renovated.
Official Rating: Agréé Jeunesse et Sports
Capacity: 56 Location: Set in its own grounds (4 hectares), ideally located in the small village of Tailleville, 3km from the seaside resorts of Bernières sur Mer and Courseulles, 12km from Arromanches, 15km from Bayeux and 18km from Caen.
Facilities: The centre has its own spacious bright restaurant and several meeting rooms (request in advance). Other facilities include a table tennis room, football and volleyball in the grounds. The centre is equipped with a TV and video.
Accommodation: Students are accommodated in 2-5 bedded rooms and all rooms have a shower and wash basin. Toilets are situated on the corridor.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Port en Bessin
In the picturesque little fishing town of Port en Bessin, ideally located 9km from Bayeux and 10km from Arromanches.
A comfortable and modern type building in a pretty coastal town, ideally located for all of the Normandy excursions.
Official Rating: 2 Star
Capacity: 140 Location: Situated near the town centre of this attractive fishing port approximately 100 metres from the seafront.
Facilities: dining room and meeting room that can be used for recreation or project work.
Accommodation: groups are accommodated in simple 2-6 bedded rooms all with full private facilities, telephone and TV.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Sample Itinerary - 5 DAY Normandy World War II Focus
(STS itineraries are tailor made. Below is an itinerary example.)
Morning
Afternoon
Day 1
Travel
Travel
Day 2
Visit Arromanches town, D-day Landings Museum & 360 cinema
Visit the American Cemetery, Colleville, Omaha Beach. Longues-sur-Mer & Pointe du Hoc
Day 3
Morning at leisure
Visit Caen Memorial Museum. memorial Pegasus museum & Merville Gun battery
Day 4
Visit to Bayeaux Memorial Museum & british Cemetary
Juno Beach Centre
Day 5
Travel home
Market visits are also possible but depend on day of the week.
Evening activities such as Bowling in Courseulles or Caen can also be arranged.
Meal Arrangements
Full Board:
First Meal - Evening meal on Day 1.
Final Meal - Packed lunch on the Final day.
Free Back-Up Material
STS Guide to Normandy and a map.
Excursion Selection
History & Landmarks Musée de la Batterie de Merville - Merville-Franceville. This museum retraces the conditions and unfolding of the operation carried out by British 6th Airbourne Div.
Mémorial Pegasus - Ranville-Benouville. At dawn on 6th June 1944 the first allied troops arrived in Ranville-Benouville. Relive their story and learn about their heroic combat to liberate the region.
Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique - Ouistreham. In a former artillery range-finding post on the Atlantic Wall, this restored and re-equipped concrete tower is the only one of its kind.
Centre Juno Beach - Courseulles-sur-Mer. The only Canadian Museum on the Landing Beaches, the Juno Beach Centre explains the role of Canada in the Second World War.
Musée America Gold Beach - Ver-sur-Mer. This museum recounts the 1st airmail flight between the USA and France, together with a retrospective of the D-Day landing and the British beachhead on Gold Beach.
Arromanches 360 - Arromanches. This 360° film show of events is an unfogettable experience.
Musée du Débarquement - Arromanches. This museum is dedicated to the incredible feat of technology achieved by the British in building and setting up the artificial harbour.
Batterie de Longues - Longues-sur-Mer. This german artillery battery, which gave the Allied ships a pounding on the morning of the 6th June, is the only coastal battery to have kept its guns.
Musée des Epaves sous-marines du Débarquement - Port-en-Bessin. Collection of impressive remains and personal items found in the great warships sunk on/around 6 June 1944.
Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie - Bayeux. Located in the first town in France to be liberated, this museum's displays offer a better understanding of this decisive action in the liberationof Western Europe.
Cimetière Amêricain - Colleville-sur-Mer. Overlooking Omaha Beach, the American cemetery contains 9,387 perfectly aligned white crosses on a 170-acre plot and a visitors centre.
Musée Mémorial d'Omaha Beach - Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. This 1200m2 museum has a fine collection of uniforms, arms, vehicles and personal effects.
Cimetière Militaire Allemand - La Cambe. This impressive necropolis brings together over 7 acres of 213300 soldiers who fell during the fighting in 1944.
Musée Airbourne - Sainte-mère-èglise. The longest Day is told in pictures and momentos of the operations carried out by the American 82nd and 101st Airbourne Divisions.
Musée du Débarquement - Saint-Marie-du-Mont. This museum uses archives and souvenirs to recount the military and engineering exploit of the American landing at UTAH.
Le Mémorial de Caen - Caen. Section dedicated to the 20th Century. Topics include WWII the reconstruction the cold war the political stakes and the construction of peace. Opening times available on request.
Departing from your school and returning to school by standard touring coach, arriving at your centre on Day 1 and departing from the centre on the final day.
Standard Channel Crossing
Ferry: Dover to Calais: 1½ hours
Other channel crossings: Available at a supplementary charge.
Eurotunnel: Folkestone to Calais: 35 minutes platform to platform.
Transfer Times
Calais: Creully and Port en Bessin Tailleville: 5½hours; Merville-Franceville and Houlgate: 4¾ hours.
Cherbourg: Creully, Port en Bessin, Tailleville 1½hours; Merville-Franceville and Houlgate: 2 hours.
Caen: Port en Bessin Tailleville ½ hour approximately; Merville-Franceville and Houlgate: 45 minutes approximately.
The second fortnight in July saw three great successes: the liberation of Caen the capture of St-Lô and the breakthrough southwards towards Granville and Avranches. After a fruitless attempt at cutting off a section of Patton's Army in the Mortain counter-attack the Germans whose resistance was weakening began their withdrawal to the Seine. However in a great two-pronged attack by the British, Canadians and Poles in the North and the Americans and Lercler's French coming from Alençon in the south, part of two German armies were trapped in the Falaise-Chambois pocket (the 'Corridor of Death' at Montormel).
This brought the Battle of Normandy to a close at Tournai-sur-Dives on 21st August 1944. The Allies had pulled off their first victory on the continent. Three days later, they crossed the seine and entered Paris.
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