Sword Beach

Ouistreham today, is a lovely sea side town, which attracts thousands of visitors annually. The beach is golden sand and it is hard to imagine  what it must have been like on that historical day, 6th. June 1944.
It is the home to the cross channel ferry terminal from Portsmouth England.
A great starting point when on the D-Day trail.

The town now boasts lovely gardens all along the sea front, with hotels and cafés and a new casino, as can be seen in the picture to the left.
The historical importance of Ouistreham in the Invasion of Normandy has not and will not be forgotten, many of the town's roads and streets are named after the men who liberated it.
The memorial shown to the right was unveiled by H.R.H. Prince Philip on June 6th. 2000. It is dedicated to everyone from all arms of the services, who died for the liberation of Ouistreham.

The Grand Bunker as described in the previous page, is still standing!
It has been converted into a piece of living history, with vivid and evocative displays on all five floors.
It is a time capsule of 1944 an historical reminder of the Atlantic Wall.
Visit the generator room, machine gun emplacements, staff rest room, first aid post, ammunition store, observation post, etc. etc.