| The Battle
of Normandy lasted for ten weeks, culminating at Falaise
in August 1944 with the German Army's second worst defeat
(after Stalingrad).
The British and Canadian
forces landed on the three western beaches. Principal
sites of interest include Pegasus Bridge over the Orne
(paratroop museum), Bernières-sur-mer and Arromanches
(remains of the artificial "Mulberry Harbour" still
survive), which hosts the main D-Day Museum. American and
forces landed at Omaha and Utah beaches. Principal sites
of interest include the Monument and Exhibition at
Vierville, the military cemetery at St.Laurent, Le Hoc
Point (stormed by the Texas Rangers) and Ste-Mère Eglise
(the first village in France to be liberated [by US
paratroops]).
Several British, Canadian
and French war cemeteries may be found in towns and
villages near the landing beaches. A visit to the cemetery
at La Déliverande provides a chance to see its magnificent
church and chapel decorated in Lalique glass. There are
monuments to the involvement of French forces at Sword and
Utah Beaches.
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