2013 D-Day Normandy Calendar

D-Day Events 2013

This is a guide to 2013 D-Day events in Normandy, France for the 69th Anniversary of D-Day.

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Sunday 26th May 2013

Amfreville (50)
- 11:00 a.m.  : ceremony at the 507th PIR monument.

Picauville (50)
- 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. : 10th military fair at the village hall.

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Saturday 1st June 2013

Carquebut (50)
- 10:30 a.m. : international walk for Peace. Starting at 10:30, lunch at 12:30 at Houesville. Back to Carquebut to 04:00 p.m. and arrival in Sainte-Mere-Eglise to 05:00 p.m. (19 km).

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Sunday, 2nd June 2013

Sainteny (50)
- 11:00 a.m. : ceremony at la Roserie with veteran Jack Port from the US 4th infantry division.

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Tuesday 4th June 2013

Montebourg (50)
- 05:00 p.m. : ceremony in the square of the 4th American Infantry.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 06:30 p.m. : welcome to veterans and their families.

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Wednesday 5th June 2013

Amfreville (50)
- 11:00 a.m.  : ceremony at the 507th PIR monument.
- 02:30 p.m. : ceremony at the Timmes monument.
- 06:00 p.m. : ceremony honouring DeGlopper.

Gourbesville (50)
- 09:30 a.m. : official ceremony at the 82nd Airborne/90th Infantry division monument, near the church.

Merville (14)
- 12:00 a.m. : veterans lunch at the battery.
- 05:00 p.m. : ceremony at the 9th battalion monument at the battery.
- 07:00 p.m. : veterans lunch (reservation at the battery).

Saint-Marcouf (50)
- Reenactement of a U.S. military camp at the Crisbecq battery (from 5th to 9th June).

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50)
- 05:00 p.m.: hommage to the women who took part in the Normandy landings.
- 08:00 p.m. : official ceremony at Utah Beach/Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.

Saint-Vaast-en-Auge (14)
- 03:30 p.m. : ceremony honouring the 12 British and Canadian paratroopers killed on D-Day near the town.

Utah Beach (50)
- 02:00 p.m. : Utah Beach Memory walk (12 km). Limited number of places: mandatory registration at the Sainte-Mère-Eglise Tourist office.
- 11:00 p.m. : fireworks at Utah Beach.

Picauville (50)
- 06:00 p.m. : Picauville Memory walk (11 km). Meet at the church. Limited number of places: mandatory registration at the Sainte-Mère-Eglise Tourist office.

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Thursday, 6th June 2013

Amfreville (50)
- 06:00 p.m. : Amfreville Memory walks (7 km). Meet at the 507th PIR monument. Limited number of places: mandatory registration at the Sainte-Mère-Eglise Tourist office.

Bayeux (14)
- 12:00 a.m. : ceremony organized by the Royal British Legion at the Bayeux War Cemetery.

Colleville-sur-Mer (14)
- 08:30 a.m. : historic evocation of D-Day by historians, veterans and inhabitants of the municipalities of Omaha.
- 15:30 p.m. : ecumenical ceremony at the US military cemetery.

Courseulles-sur-Mer (14)
- 10:30 a.m. : ceremony with Canadian and French dignitaries and inauguration of the Garth Webb Esplanade.
- 01:00 p.m. : free access at the Juno Beach Centre.
- 04:00 p.m. : free concert by the Canadian group “Cataraqui Brass”. Garth Webb Esplanade.
- 06:00 p.m. : free concert by the “Pipe Bands Piperade South West & Westcliff Piping Society”. Juno Park.
- 08:30 p.m. : free concert by Canadian group “Brideau-Gagnon Blues Band”. Esplanade Garth Webb.
- 11:00 p.m. : fireworks at Juno Park.

Merville (14)
- 12:00 a.m. : veterans lunch at the battery.

Ranville (14)
- 09:30 a.m. : wreath laying at the Crossroad of 6 june, 13th Battalion Memorial.
- 11:00 a.m. : remembrance ceremony at the Ranville military cemetery.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50)
- 09:00 a.m.  : IVY walk, in the path of the 4th US Infantry Division on D-Day. Information and reservation : leholdy@orange.fr.
- 11:00 a.m.  : ceremony at the Angelo Chatas monument in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont/Utah Beach (near the Réserve de Beauguillot)

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 08:30 p.m. : concert for Peace, Church of Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

Ver-sur-Mer (14)
- 09:30 p.m. : ceremony honoring the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards at Place Winston Churchill.
- 11:00 p.m. : ceremony at the 2nd Battalion The Hertfordshire Regiment, Avenue du Colonel Harper, and ceremony at the 50th Infantry Division Royal Artillery, Voie du Débarquement.
- 11:30 p.m. : ceremony honoring the memory of the Normans killed on D-Day, Place Amiral Byrd.

Vierville-sur-Mer (14)
- 16:30 p.m. : ceremony at the National Guard monument.

Friday June 7th 2013

Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse (14)
- 06:00 p.m. : ceremony at the Gordon Brown monument (commercial area of Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse).
- 07:00 p.m. : ceremony in honour of Canadian soldiers, Place des Canadiens.

Carentan (50)
- 05:00 p.m. : official ceremonies at the “Carré de choux” monument then at the town hall.
- 08:30 p.m. : liberation ball at the village hall. 1944 dress. Entrance: 5 euros per person.

Chef-du-Pont (50)
- 02:00 p.m. : official ceremony.

Hiesville (50)
- 09:00 a.m. : Memory walks (9 km). Rendez-vous at the car park. Mandatory registration at the town hall.

Merville (14)
- 10:30 p.m. : re-enactment of the assault of the Merville guns with 150 participants.
- 11:30 p.m. : fireworks at the battery.

Picauville (50)
- 10:00 a.m. : official ceremony at Place du Prieuré, USAAF monument, with American soldier.
- 06:00 p.m. : ceremony at the 90th Infantry Division, Utah Beach road.
- 07:30 p.m. : French-American supper  at the village hall (open to all after registration at the Sainte-Mère-Eglise Tourist office).

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 08:30 a.m. to 04:30 p.m. : Military Exchange Market.

Vierville-sur-Mer (14)
- 03:00 p.m. : ceremony at the monument of the 1st American military cemetery, at 162 Boulevard de Cauvigny, with American and British veterans.

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Saturday 8th June 2013

Angoville-au-Plain (50)
- 10:30 a.m. : official ceremony at the Toccoa monument, near the church.

Carentan (50)
- 08:00 a.m. : Carentan Liberty March. Meeting at the Carentan marina. Finish is around 04:00 p.m., at Place de la République.

Colleville-Montgomery (14)
- 10:30 a.m. : Piper Bill Millin memorial unveiling.

Graignes (50)
- 05:30 p.m. : ceremony at the French-American monument.

La Cambe (14)
- 02:00 p.m. : official German ceremony at the German military cemetery.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50)
- 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. : Military Exchange Market near the stadium. Information and reservation : leholdy@orange.fr.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 12:00 a.m. : lunch near the church of Sainte-Mère-Eglise.
- 06:00 p.m. : Peace ceremony at the “0 Borne” of Sainte-Mère-Eglise.
- 07:00 p.m. : banquet  in Sainte-Mere-Eglise.
- 11:00 p.m. : fireworks near the church in Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

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Sunday 9th June  2013

Brévands (50)
- 10:00 a.m. : ceremony at « le Moulin », near the Filthy 13 area.

Merville (14)
- All day long: “Heroes walk “. France 44 association is re-enacting the assault of the batteries (booking at the battery, 8 Euros).

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (50)
- 09:30-12:00 a.m. : « Utah Red Ball », GMC truck tour. Information and rervation : leholdy@orange.fr.
- 12:00 a.m. : open-air lunch near the church.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise (50)
- 11:00 a.m. : Airborne show at La Fière by the Round Canopy Parachuting Team.
- 04:00 p.m. : Airborne show at La Fière by the Round Canopy Parachuting Team.

Ver-sur-Mer (14)
- 10:45 a.m. : ceremony honouring the Green Howards soldiers at the Paisty-Vert, Voie du Débarquement.

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Monday 18th June  2013

Tilly-sur-Seulles (14)
- 09:30 a.m. : mass in the church.
- 10:45 a.m.  : wreath laying near the church.
- 11:00 a.m. : ceremony in the memory of civilian victims.

France Breathalyser Law

France Breathalyser Law – Final Decision, Sort Of!

The on-off breathalyser law is now officially ON – except that there’s no sanction for failure to have one and the Interior Minister thinks they are a waste of time!

“tout automobiliste est tenu de posséder un éthylotest à bord de son véhicule. Tout en maintenant cette obligation, le décret supprime la sanction qui devait s’appliquer, à compter du 1er mars 2013, en cas de défaut de possession de l’éthylotest.”

Announcing the decision, the Interior Minister Manuel Valls declared that as far as he is concerned, compulsory breathalysers would not be effective in combating drink-driving and that with the removal of the sanction, they are effectively no longer required.

Mais personne ne peut croire qu’on peut faire reculer ce chiffre en verbalisant les conducteurs d’une amende de 11 euros pour non-possession d’un éthylotest … pour moi, il n’y a pas d’éthylotest obligatoire, et encore moins de sanction.

He also announced that the government has decided to put back the speed camera warning signs that they took down last year; replacing them will take place over the next 2-3 years.


http://www.service-public.fr/actualites/002384.html

Perhaps this is part of government job creation scheme?

Diversions around Rouen – Update

Diversions around Rouen due to Bridge Closure

First published November 9 2012, updated and republished February 28 2013.

Until further notice there are diversions around Rouen, heading both north and south, as the main bridge for vehicles over the Seine at Rouen has been closed due to an accident. In October 2012 a petrol tanker crossed the central reservation, crashed and caught fire on the Pont Mathilde; several vehicles beneath the bridge were destroyed in the conflagration and while no-one was seriously injured, the damage to the bridge was severe.

Since October an emergency circulation plan banning HGVs from certain routes through the city has been implemented and the bridge is closed to all traffic. Diversion signs are in place and the bridge will remain closed while repairs are carried out during 2013.

Suggested routes in and around Rouen:

The diversion routes suggested for cars are shown below. We have tried the Rouen north-south diversion in both directions while travelling to and from La Basse Cour and it poses few problems (in fact we found it more pleasant with fewer traffic lights and junctions) though it does take a few minutes longer. We tried it northbound around lunchtime and southbound shortly after lunchtime, on a weekday each time. We may actually make this our regular route for the annual return to visit family in the UK as it is less stop-start than the normal route and misses the horrible industrial estate rat-run with all its roundabouts and traffic lights.

• Coming on the A28 from the north to Rouen, the diversion route takes the A29 in the direction of Amiens and Le Havre, then the A151 in the direction of Rouen, then the A150. If you are heading south to Le Mans/Bordeaux etc. you then pick up the A13 west to Le Havre and shortly turn south on the A28, or earlier onto the N438 if you want to avoid the A28 tolls. We think the tolls are well worth it as the A28 is speedy and hassle free, unlike the N438. Whichever you choose, just be alert to be in the correct lane and follow the diversion signs! Heading north is the same route around Rouen in reverse, also with diversion signs.

• Coming on the A13 from Paris to Caen, the suggested route is A139, RN138 /338 and then into Rouen on the A150, A151 and A29.

• On the left bank quays of Rouen from East to West, traffic is allowed from the quay Cavelier de la Salle to Boulevard Béthencourt.

Rouen Diversions

More photos and an article translated from French are available here:

Pont Mathilde Article

Monty Don’s French Gardens – Champ de Bataille

Monty Don – French Gardens

 

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Monty Don at Champ de Bataille Gardens

The Chateau du Champ de Bataille boasts a magnificent garden based in part on the classic French style and heavily influenced by drawings by the French designer le Notre – hence it’s inclusion in Monty Don‘s first programme of his new BBC2 series, “French Gardens”, which aired on 1st February 2013.

Monty was exploring “Gardens of Power and Passion” in and around Paris, with emphasis on those designed by Andre Le Notre, the son of Louis XVIII’s gardener at les Tuileries.  The original gardens at Champ de Bataille fell into disrepair and had virtually disappeared when the present owner, Jacques Garcia, took it upon himself to recreate a garden in the grounds of the chateau, which is situated next to one of the best golf courses in France .

An outline plan of the former gardens had survived, which revealed the basic outline and terraces of the missing garden.

This was used only as a general guideline, rather than copied slavishly. The resulting garden (which was begun in 1993 and took 12 years to complete) is a masterful blend of classical French and Italian design and inspiration, with modern influences. Parterres, follies, classical temples, fountains, lakes – 43 hectares of park and garden in all, crowned by a stunning view that stretches over a mile down the garden from the main terrace of the chateau du Champ de Bataille.

Practical Information to visit Champ de Bataille

Château du Champ de Bataille gardens are open weekends and public holidays from Easter to end of October, from 14.00h to 18.00h.

May, June, September open every day 14.00h to 18.00h.

July to August open every day 10.00h to 18.00h.

Château du Champ de Bataille interior is open for “audioguide” visits on weekends and public holidays from Easter to end of October, from 15h30 to 17h30.

July to August open every day 15h30 to 17h30.

Normandy-Loire Blog Year 2012 in Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

19,000 people fit into the new Barclays Center to see Jay-Z perform. This blog was viewed about 79,000 times in 2012. If it were a concert at the Barclays Center, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Diversions around Rouen

Diversions around Rouen due to Bridge Closure

Until further notice there are diversions around Rouen, heading both north and south, as the main bridge for vehicles over the Seine at Rouen has been closed due to an accident.  In October 2012 a petrol tanker crossed the central reservation, crashed and caught fire on the Pont Mathilde; several vehicles beneath the bridge were destroyed in the conflagration and while no-one was seriously injured, the damage to the bridge was severe.

Since October an emergency circulation plan banning HGVs from certain routes through the city has been implemented and the bridge is closed to all traffic.  Diversion signs are in place and the bridge will remain closed while repairs are carried out during 2013.

Suggested routes in and around Rouen:

The diversion routes suggested for cars are shown below.  We have tried the Rouen north-south diversion in both directions while travelling to and from La Basse Cour and it poses few problems (in fact we found it more pleasant with fewer traffic lights and junctions) though it does take a few minutes longer.  We tried it northbound around lunchtime and southbound shortly after lunchtime, on a weekday each time.  We may actually make this our regular route for the annual return to visit family in the UK as it is less stop-start than the normal route and misses the horrible industrial estate rat-run with all its roundabouts and traffic lights.

• Coming on the A28 from the north to Rouen, the diversion route takes the A29 in the direction of Amiens and Le Havre, then the A151 in the direction of Rouen, then the A150.  If you are heading south to Le Mans/Bordeaux etc. you then pick up  the A13 west to Le Havre and shortly turn south on the A28, or earlier onto the N438 if you want to avoid the A28 tolls. We think the tolls are well worth it as the A28 is speedy and hassle free, unlike the N438.  Whichever you choose, just be alert to be in the correct lane and follow the diversion signs!  Heading north is the same route around Rouen in reverse, also with diversion signs.

• Coming on the A13 from Paris to Caen, the suggested route is A139, RN138 /338 and then into Rouen on the A150, A151 and A29.

• On the left bank quays of Rouen from East to West, traffic is allowed from the quay Cavelier de la Salle to Boulevard Béthencourt.

Rouen Diversions

More photos and an article translated from French are available here:

Pont Mathilde Article

Brocantes & Antiques around Alençon

As we slip into the cooler days of a southern Normandy autumn and there is less work to do in the garden, we have been nosing around brocantes and antique shops near Alençon.

Earlier this year we focussed on the brocantes of the Perche region to our immediate east, so for a change we decided to look up a few addresses around Alençon to the west.  We’ve mentioned the amazing “Esprit Antiques” brocante and reclamation yard in a recent blog post, and this inspired us to dig out a few more – so here are a three more that we visited recently.

Philippe HUVE

Serge LANGLE

Philippe HUVE

Philippe HUVE

Philippe HUVE

Serge LANGLE

Françoise CHAUVIN

Serge LANGLE

Serge LANGLE

Serge LANGLE

Françoise CHAUVIN

Serge LANGLE

Françoise CHAUVIN

Françoise CHAUVIN

Esprit Antique

Esprit Antique

Françoise CHAUVIN

This large brocante and depot-vente occupies a hangar of 680m² split into two sections.  The first is mainly wooden furniture with a little section for garden tools and hardware; lots of tables, chairs, wardrobes – some of it is relatively modern but mostly antique – the condition and quality are variable.  The second room is packed with smaller furniture like occasional tables, bedside tables and painted cabinets, plus a large selection of glassware and china, pottery, lamps and lighting.

We’ve been here many times before and they have recently improved their presentation, which used to be frankly chaotic, with boxes full of tut all over the place, so that you couldn’t see the wood for the trees – it is much, much better now.

This time when we visited there were some reasonable marble topped bedside cabinets (“chevets”) from 25€ and a couple of nice church pews for about 75€.

Practical

Open 7 days a week.  Mon-Fri 10h00 to 12h00 and 14h00 to 19h00, Saturday 10h00 to 19h00, Sunday and holidays 15h00 to 19h00.

La Boissière, rue du Moulin à Vent, 61250 Condé-sur-Sarthe

Tel: 02 33 82 96 44

Serge LANGLE

This brocante and scrapyard is great for nosing around for old iron fire guards, fencing, gates and grills, old farm and carpentry tools, metal urns, chairs and benches.  The yard is haphazard and in the shed containing furniture, china and knick-knacks you have to watch you don’t bring piles of stuff tumbling down around your ears, but the prices are good and it’s just the sort of place where those with an inventive turn of mind who like to “re-purpose” old objects can unearth a bargain buried  in a corner or hidden under something else.

The owner is very friendly and will leave you to nose around undisturbed, but is happy to help and is open to bargaining over prices.

On the other side of the house is the scrapyard where we found loads of old ploughs and cart wheels – as well as huge piles of scrap metal whose purpose we couldn’t fathom out.

We bought a nice painted iron bench (no age, but attractive) and three large decorative metal grills for the garden.  We plan to return to buy one or two old sewing machine stands (he had loads for 15€ each) and some marble tops to place on them (10€ each) and use as display tables in the garden.

Practical

Open every afternoon except Sunday.

La Boissière, rue du Moulin à Vent, 61250 Condé-sur-Sarthe

Tel: 02 33 82 96 44

Philippe HUVE

A small roadside brocante with an eclectic mix of books, paintings, furniture large and small with the bonus that the furniture seems to be reasonably priced, so maybe less haggling required!  The lady who was in charge when we visited was very pleasant and there was no feeling that we were being watched, no pressure and no questions about what we were looking for – we were free to wander.  There is an additional small showroom upstairs.

We were particularly taken by the selection of traditional wardrobes, from 350€ to 500€.  Not pieces of exceptional quality (they run to thousands – if you’re looking for that kind of spending we can give you other addresses) but attractive with some age, a bit of style and in good condition.

Le Bonnet, 61420 St Denis sur Sarthon

Tel: 02 33 27 36 31

… and don’t forget Alençon Flea Market

First Saturday of every month on the pavements surrounding the Halle au Blé, Alençon, there is a flea market which draws many brocantes on a regular basis – postcards, peppermills, lighting, furniture, books and paintings.

The Halle au Blé is one of the landmark buildings in Alençon town centre; park up for free in the Palais de Justice car park about 50m away; the stallholders are all around the impressive, glass-domed, circular building that used to be the corn exchange.

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