France Guide
Normandy
Coleville-sur-Mer
This tiny seaside town's main attraction for visitors is the vast Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, perched on a grassy clifftop above the expanse of Omaha beach, a stretch of sand so secluded and beautiful that it is impossible to imagine the events that took place here. In addition to the cemetery, the site is also home to an impressive visitor centre (daily 9am–6pm; free; 
www.abmc.gov ), a modern, high-tech construction which features clear explanations of the events of 1944 and the American role in them. The multimedia displays are often touching, many focusing on the personal angle by highlighting the stories of both casualties and survivors. Particularly haunting is the corridor which speaks the names of all those whose lives were lost on French soil. Among the resources available at the centre is a computer search facility which enables visitors to locate graves by name.