Sainte-Mère-Eglise - Normandy Tourism, France

The liberation of Europe from German occupation began in spectacular fashion for the inhabitants of Sainte-Mère-Eglise. A misdrop brought paratroops raining down onto the village square, their chutes lit by the light of a house fire! Private John Steele would be the most famous of them all, left dangling from the pinnacle of the church tower.

That village, that tower, that guy…

A small and quiet rural community, Saint-Mère-Eglise was of great importance as it straddled all communications to Cherbourg. While nearly 13,000 American paratroops were being dropped under a full moon into the confusion of the surrounding countryside, famously one company was dropped, at about 1:45am, onto the village square and cattle market of this now world-famous village.

But don’t let this stop you from admiring the old buildings, the wash-houses, the fountains, the mansions… or from enjoying the pleasures of rural life in the Cotentin. The light and atmosphere of the marshes will delight photographers and hikers, while sports enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the sand yachts or horse riding on the wide expanses of Utah Beach.

Inaugurated on 6 June 1964, the Airborne Museum pays tribute to the American troops of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The museum’s fascinating itinerary, with its many historic objects and vintage aircraft, will take you back to the history of the American paratroopers who took part in the D-Day landings in 1944.