Arromanches-les-Bains Things to Do

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I had heard of this cinema but assumed it was just a funky way of showing a film about the D-Day Landings and that we would almost certainly have seen the footage many times before. But on a dull Sunday afternoon in early October John thought it would make a good short visit.
I discovered how wrong my assumptions were....

I knew from pictures that the building was round and on the cliff top overlooking Arromanche. It appears to be set like a mound as though in a round bunker.
The film shown is The Price of Freedom made - according to the publicity - using 9 cameras mounted in different locations, also utilising archived, previously unseen film and scenes of the now peaceful towns and countryside over which the fierce battles were fought.

The film is viewed on 9 screens in the circular theatre - you stand and move around as you wish to watch.
The combination of constant action and sound, plus the juxtaposition of D-Day images with those of the present day creates an intense feeling that brings you closer to an understanding of the suffering, heroism and terror of war. It is difficult to put such an unforgettable experience into words.
I would be wary of taking very young children to a showing which lasts a long 20 minutes.

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This is a very obvious thing to do but if you have arrived in Arromanches-le-Bains because of an interest in its history it is a small way in which you may begin to imagine, to feel for yourself something of the awe that the events that took place here evoke.

On my first visit, on a day not unlike that stormy day of June 6 1944, I was accompanied by a relative whose husband had, at the age of 19 then a midshipsman, RNVR, served as First lLeutenant on one of the landing craft that brought troops ashore.
It was really only then, two years after she had been widowed she realised the impact the experience had on him and understood the written contribution he had made to a collection of personal accounts of D-Day. Happily he was one of the survivors and wrote his account very soon after. *
But re-reading it now is a chilling experience. His widow admitted that it was only after that visit, that she took down the book and read it properly for the first time and then again and again.

* The book is The D Day Landings by Philip Warner originally published by William Kimber, London, now reissued and widely available in a "Daily Telegraph " edition under the general series heading "Pen and Sword Books"

In the First picture the lone Paraglider above the cliff seems to symbolise the thousands who were parachuted onto the beaches and into enemy territory .

In other pictures the remains of the Mulberry Harbours can be seen broken up after being tossed in the sea for 65 years but still far from disintegrating.

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Assault time 07:25
The weather was really rough on the morning of 6th June 1944 when the British, 50th Northumbrian Division landed on the beach

Leading Formations
8th Armoured Brigade DD Tanks
6th Battalion, The Green Howards
5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
1st Battalion, Dorset Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Hampshire Regiment.

Objective of the Day
The objective of the day was to capture Bayeux, establish a bridgehead across the N13 Bayeux to Caen road, to take the German gun battery at Longues and to establish contact with the flanking formations.

This cinema is situated on the top of the hill and shows a moving film called "The Price of Freedom". The film is projected onto 9 screens and you find yourself totally drawn into it.

It's well worth a visit.

The Arromanches 360 Circular Theater is open 7/7. A show at 10 past and 40 past each hour

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This museum gives you a great overview of the D-Day landings. It tells you about the wonderful Mulberry Harbour that was transported piece by piece over the English Channel to France.

It includes a huge moving exhibit of the harbour and also a short film.

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The city of Arromanches is very beautiful and it has got some beautiful houses. In front of the Hotel de Ville there is a plate that remembers Charles De Gaulle and his struggle for the France liberty during the WWII .

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The nice little church of Arromanches is dedicated to St. Pierre, protecting of fishermen. It was built between 1857 and 1870 in the Neo-Romanic style replacing the church of 13th century, too small for a city of fishermen that became a sea resort. The stained glasses of the church remind the events of the landing of the II World War.

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The museum of the disembark, situated in the center of the vilalge, explains very well the logistic and strategic position of Port Winston. Inside it you can see many heirlooms, weapons, letters and other left by the soldiers of both the factions. Outside there are some interesting vehicles.