| 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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