best private guide for american cemetery in bayeux
we would like to see the american cemetery on december 24 - we just have a very limited amount of time
alicia
austin, tx us 12/9/12
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I just looked at the American Battle Monuments Commission list of cemetaries and there isn't one at Bayeaux. If you haven't looked at this site you may want to.
alicia,
The American Cemetery is not in Bayeux but rather at Colleville-sur-Mer, which is just above Omaha Beach. You'd need a car to get there from Bayeux.
Finding a Guide on Dec. 24th is probably going to be just about impossible. Most people will want to be with family that close to Christmas. Given the fact that you only have "a very limited amount of time", I'm not sure it will be worth the effort to go there.
Good luck and happy travels!
If you can't find a guide, I would go anyway. Been there many, many times and never had a guide. It's very doable on your own. It's well worth any amount of time you have. If you don't have a car, you could take a taxi and have them wait for you. They also have a wonderful little museum. (The best WWII museum though, imo, is in Bayeux).
Alicia, Is there a particular grave you are looking for? I can give you some help if there is.
If you want to see a certain grave, go to the American Battle Monuments Commission website, click on WWII and type in the name you are looking for and it will give you the row,plot number, etc. I believe they close at 5pm in winter. Staff on hand may escort you to a particular grave or at least will give you specific details on how to get to a certain plot.
I hope this advice is accurate , I try to err on the side of possibility : The cemetery in Bayeux is a British cemetery , not American . It is worth a visit particulary for the inscription on the memorial . The British are our cousins in a manner of speaking and we should be aware of this regardless of whatever obvious differences may have existed between us in the past . We were moved greatly from our visit there . The American cemetery of which you speak is in Colleville sur Mer not very far from Bayeux . With a car it is close by and very easily accessible. You should see both if you can , you will be changed forever .
" We, once conquered by William, have now set free the Conqueror's native land."
I agree with you, Steven. Our visit there changed me forever - my interest in WWII developed there and since then we have seen several other sites.
You didn't mention anything else about your itinerary, so here's a suggestion if time is tight. There are 20 US cemeteries scattered across Europe, although most are in France and Belgium. My apologies if you were already aware of this, although I find that many people who wish to visit the more well known cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer do not know of the existence of the others. If you are traveling far out of your way to visit the Normandy memorial and there isn't a specific grave that you want to find, it may be more convenient for your trip to consider one of the other cemeteries. Many of the others sadly receive only a tiny trickle of visitors. Here's the list:
http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries.php
I don't think you would need a guide. Although a little more elaborate than a typical cemetery, they are essentially just that- rows of gravestones. If you're looking for a particular grave, you can find the location at the caretaker's office or online at the above website.
The half day (4 hour) tour with Overlord is excellent. We did it in August this year & highl recommend it. Small group, great guide. Meet behind Churchill hotel...great place to stay too.
The most important question is whether ANY of the tours will be operating on December 24th????
Alicia I am sure you are talking about the Normandy Military Cemetery outside of Bayeux. You don't need a private guide to tour a cemetery. There is enough information at the visitor's center and on line so you can walk the area on your own.