Private tour in Cherbourg François G
5.0
(3) reviews
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François G.
5.0
Guide rating
50
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Tours delivered
6 hrs
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Bonjour, my name is Francois. I was born and raised in Caen, the capital of lower Normandy. I also lived 17 years in England : London, west yorkshire and for 12 years I was literally "sent to Coventry", a town in the midlands, working for the city council. It is during my time there where I learnt English. All my family is from Normandy and were in the Caen area during the two and half months in 1944 we now call "The battle of Normandy". I grew up learning from a generation who survived those events and understood the impact it had on their lives. I vividly remember as a kid at family gathering, listening for hours to my grandparents, uncles and aunties talking about the German occupation, the bombings, the suffering, the liberation and newly restored freedom. I also have a Spanish Grandfather who was a republican and played his part by fighting the Germans in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. He ended up as a refugee in France and was eventually taken prisoner by the Germans, being one of the slave laborers building the now famous, or should I say infamous "Atlantic wall". I'm very passionate about my work and I have always been fascinated by history and more particularly WW2 and the battle of Normandy. As a young man, I was always interested in the military aspect of history, but getting older and more mature I'm now much more interested in the personal experiences of the soldiers and civilians. A personal memoir tells you so much more than a military history about what people endured. Professional baccalaureate in forestry business. D-day beaches tour guide, 7 years for Normandy Sightseeing tours company. Menber of Normandy Battlefield Tour Guide Association. Registered in France as Guide accompagnateur. VTC owner. (carte professionnelle de conducteur de voiture de transport avec chauffeur). I'm a licensed D-day beaches Guide. I also own a license to transport people wherever they want BUT I'm not a licensed Guide to guide inside the abbey of Mont Saint Michel or any National monuments.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message François G.
I'll pick you up in Cherbourg at 8. 30 and we'll drive to Sainte Mere Eglise made famous in "The longest day" film and the center of the American airborne drop. On the way to Utah, I'll explain to you the "Bocage", the tricky Normand landscape partially floaded on D-day. On Utah we'll see the beach and memorials. Next is the German battery of La Pointe du Hoc, one of the most world famous D-day sites. You'll hear how the rangers scalled the cliffs to destroy the cannons that could fire on Utah and Omaha beaches. From there we'll head on to Omaha beach and I'll show you the remaining of the Atlantic wall, German defences that you can visit. Finally we'll visit the stunning and moving American cemetery where over 9000 Battle of Normandy victims lay to rest. I'll drop you back in Cherbourg at 17. 00.
Pick up Cherbourg at 8. 30. - Sainte mére Eglise. 505th regiment 82nd Division. - Beuzeville au Plain. Lieutenant Thomas Meehan's monument. E Company, 506th regiment 101st Division. Plus explanations about the Norman landscape and hegderowes " The Bocage". - Utah Beach. 4th Division. Lunch at the Roosevelt café. -La pointe du Hoc. German battery. - Omaha Beach. 1st and 29th Divisions. - Colleville sur Mer. American cemetery. I will provide you informations and stories about each site and after I 'll always give you some free time . Back to Cherbourg at 17. 00
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I own a very confortable Renault Trafic 9 seats van (2025)
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Normandy, France
Port- Cherbourg. Cruise ship. I will pick you at your cruise terminal.
3 reviews
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