WWII & D-Day War Cemeteries and Memorials in Normandy

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First published: October 2025

Last updated: November 2025

Normandy is home to some of the most moving and significant Normandy cemeteries and Normandy memorials from World War II. From solemn military graves to immersive museums, the region offers many opportunities for remembrance — all easily accessible from our gîte in La Manche. Whether you’re planning a family holiday in Normandy, a WWII historical tour, or simply looking for tourist attractions in Normandy, this guide is an essential starting point for visiting a military cemetery in Normandy.

Note: All the sites below are accessible from our self-catering accommodation in Normandy — ideal for short stays in Normandy. Most are within 90 minutes by car, and we provide EV charging info and route tips in our welcome booklet.

As you explore the region, you’ll notice that the main Normandy cemeteries are spread across several towns and coastal areas rather than concentrated in one place. Each site reflects a different chapter of the landings and the wider campaign, offering its own atmosphere of remembrance. Visiting more than one cemetery gives a broader picture of the sacrifices made across Normandy.

🇺🇸 Normandy American Cemetery (Colleville-sur-Mer)

Allied – United States
Overlooking Omaha Beach, this Normandy cemetery contains 9,387 white crosses and Stars of David — a deeply moving tribute to the American soldiers who fell during the Normandy campaign. The visitor center offers interactive exhibits and soldiers’ stories. Outside, walk among the graves and stop by the chapel and reflection pool. This site is featured in the movie Saving Private Ryan, and remains one of the most recognised cemetery Normandy war locations in Europe.

Distance from our gîte: approx. 1 hr 30 min drive

🇬🇧 British Normandy Memorial (Ver-sur-Mer)

Allied – United Kingdom
This impressive and solemn site honours over 22,000 British soldiers who were killed during the D-Day landings and subsequent battles in Normandy. Located near Gold Beach, it offers a peaceful view of the sea. There is a D-Day wall listing the names of those who died on June 6, 1944, and a memorial to local French civilians. One of the most poignant and architecturally striking Normandy memorials to visit.

Distance: approx. 1 hr 15 min drive

🇬🇧 Bayeux War Cemetery

Allied – United Kingdom and Commonwealth
Close to the Bayeux Tapestry and the Normandy Battle Museum, this is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in France. It holds over 4,600 graves and a memorial to 1,800 missing soldiers. The site is peaceful and well-maintained, ideal for a reflective visit to a military cemetery in Normandy.

Distance: approx. 1 hr drive

🇩🇪 German War Cemeteries – La Cambe & Marigny

Axis – Germany
La Cambe is the final resting place of over 21,000 German soldiers, with a large central mound surrounded by oak trees planted for peace. It is a powerful example of a German military cemetery in Normandy, built with a focus on reflection and reconciliation.

Marigny cemetery, just 25 minutes from our gîte, holds 11,169 graves of soldiers who fell during the Battle of Saint-Lô. It’s a rural, peaceful site surrounded by Normandy’s bocage countryside — a lesser-known but deeply atmospheric soldier cemetery Normandy war visitors often overlook.

Distances: La Cambe – approx. 1 hr 30 min drive · Marigny – approx. 25 min drive

🇬🇧 Ranville Military Cemetery

Allied – United Kingdom
Ranville was one of the first villages to be liberated on June 6. This military cemetery in Normandy contains 2,560 graves, mainly British paratroopers involved in Operation Pegasus. It’s located near the village church and remains a quiet, lesser-known stop on a D-Day remembrance tour.

Distance: approx. 1 hr 30 min drive

🇨🇦 Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery

Allied – Canada
Located near Juno Beach, this Normandy cemetery contains over 2,000 graves of Canadian soldiers, many who fell during the D-Day landings or at Caen. The site is shaded and peaceful, surrounded by well-tended grounds and flags of remembrance.

Distance: approx. 1 hr 30 min drive

🇵🇱 Polish Cemetery at Grainville-Langannerie

Allied – Poland
The only Polish cemetery in France, with 696 graves of soldiers from the 1st Polish Armoured Division who fell during the Battle of the Falaise Pocket — a significant military cemetery in Normandy often overlooked in mainstream itineraries.

Distance: approx. 1 hr 30 min drive

🇫🇷 Resistance Cemetery at Gateys

Allied – French Resistance
This small Normandy cemetery, near Saint-Nicolas-des-Bois, honours young resistance fighters killed in August 1944. A deeply emotional and lesser-visited cemetery Normandy war travellers often discover by word of mouth.

Distance: approx. 1 hr 40 min drive

🏛️ Pegasus Memorial Museum (Bénouville)

Dedicated to the 6th British Airborne Division, the museum houses a replica of Pegasus Bridge, gliders, equipment, and uniforms. You can also visit the actual battle sites nearby — a recommended stop when touring Normandy memorials.

Distance: approx. 1 hr 40 min drive

🏛️ Memorial Museum of Caen

The most comprehensive WWII museum in Normandy: covering the rise of Nazism, the Resistance, D-Day, the Holocaust, and the Cold War. Plenty of interactive exhibits for both adults and children. One of the top Normandy war memorials for in-depth historical context.

Distance: approx. 1 hr 20 min drive

🏛️ Airborne Museum – Sainte-Mère-Église

Opposite the famous church with the paratrooper hanging from the steeple, this museum honours US airborne divisions (82nd, 101st). It features gliders, a C-47 plane, and poignant stories in immersive exhibits.

Distance: approx. 1 hr drive

🏛️ Utah Beach Landing Museum

Located directly on the beach, this museum recounts the amphibious landings and naval operations. Visitors can view a B-26 bomber, landing barges, and the beach itself remains serene and expansive — a fitting setting among Normandy memorials.

Distance: approx. 1 hr drive

🕊️ Memorials at Omaha Beach & Knotted Gun Sculpture

Omaha Beach is lined with several Normandy memorials, including the sculpture “Les Braves” and the famous Knotted Gun (symbol of peace and non-violence). Nearby is the Omaha Beach Memorial Museum, and the entire area is filled with symbols of sacrifice and remembrance.

Distance: approx. 1 hr 30 min drive

🌿 In Summary

Each of these Normandy cemeteries and war memorials offers a pause from the usual tourist crowds, allowing you to reflect on the past. From our gîte in Normandy, you are ideally located to explore these sites at your own pace and in depth — whether you're tracing family history, studying WWII, or simply paying your respects at a military cemetery in Normandy.

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