Omaha Beach To celebrate the 60th anniversary of D-Day, the Les Braves Memorial was placed on the shores of Omaha Beach in 2004, near the village of St. Laurent-sur-Mer. It was meant to be a temporary exhibit, but popularity and public demand has kept it in place. Without even knowing the story/meaning of the sculpture, … Continue reading Les Braves Memorial
Tag: France
Village near Juno Beach Luc-sur-Mer is one of many beautiful sites in France's Normandy region. One could spend weeks along the Normandy coast visiting one small village after another. Each one is picturesque and filled with WW II memorials and moving stories of D-Day. Located near Juno Beach, where the British forces landed, Luc-sur-Mer is … Continue reading Luc-sur-Mer
Notre Dame, 2019 There are 87 cathedrals in France, all of them named Notre Dame meaning "First Lady" as in the Virgin Mary. All but one of those cathedrals include "du ______" in their name describing its location; e.g. Notre Dame du Rouen is the cathedral in Rouen, France. The Notre Dame in Paris is … Continue reading Notre Dame
Chateau Gaillard - 1196 King Richard I of England, aka Richard the Lionheart, and feudal Duke of Normandy, built this fortress in 1196. Sitting on a limestone cliff overlooking the Seine, it overlooks the small town of Les Andelys. A large sum of money was spent by King Richard to complete the chateau's construction in … Continue reading Chateau Gaillard
Castle Ruins Walking around the charming village of Vernon, France I found the remains of a medieval castle wall and tower. Surrounded by gardens now, it was a pretty sight. The old town center is near the Seine River, where it's been since William the Conqueror marched through. It was an easy walk from the … Continue reading Vernon, France
Chateau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye Located in the Paris suburb of St. Germain, this little fixer-upper is formally called the Chateau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Louis VI built the first castle on this site in 1124. A chapel (not shown here) was added in 1238. Expanded several times over the centuries, Louis XIV was born here in 1638, but … Continue reading St. Germain
Anonymous Beach This is NOT a beach in France's Normandy region, but I am on Omaha Beach today, celebrating the 4th of July, America's Independence Day, on the 75th anniversary of D-Day. I am humbly paying my respects to all WWII veterans, and praying that younger generations will learn to appreciate the privilege as well … Continue reading Normandy
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