REMEMBRANCE TOURISM GUIDE 2020


YOUR GUIDE As in 2019, there are many


events and exhibitions commemorating both world wars taking place all over France this year and we cannot list them all, so here are some of our favourites. Details were correct at the time of going to press, but do check before attending.


EVENTS IN 2020 April-November The Airborne Museum See the fascinating temporary exhibition ‘France of the Second World War seen through Propaganda Posters’ at the Airborne Museum in Sainte- Mère-Église, Manche. From the Phoney War to the Occupation, the Vichy regime and the Liberation, visitors will discover a wide range of posters and learn how to decode their brilliantly hidden messages. www.airborne-museum.org/en


April 1-July 26 Musée De L’armée Don’t miss the fascinating new exhibition at the Musée De L’armée in Paris, ‘Comme en 40’, which marks a decisive year in France’s history. This immersive show puts the year’s events into context and covers everything from the Phoney War to the Battle of France, Charles de Gaulle’s Appeal of June 18 and the creation of the Vichy Government in France. www.musee-armee.fr/en


April 4-5


Musée de la Grande Guerre Step back in time for a weekend at this historic reconstruction of the Great War, courtesy of the Musée de la Grande Guerre. See the soldiers in their camps, and watch demonstrations of cannons and other weapons in action. It’s a brilliant way to get to grips with what daily life was like on the Front. www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu/ en.html


Thursday, April 9 CWGC Experience Join the commemorations of the 132 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Apr/May 2020


May 30-June 14 Normandy D-Day Festival


Musée de la Grande Guerre in Meaux has all sorts of war-related displays, including aircraft


battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge, followed by informative guided tours of the newly opened CWGC Experience in both French and in English. The day’s events last from 9am to 4pm. www.cwgc.org/visit-us/visitor- centres/cwgc-experience


Saturday, April 25 Anzac Day Dawn Service This year’s Anzac Day Dawn Service will take place at 5.30am at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, northern France. In addition to the service, there will also be a week of commemorative events in the town including concerts and walks of remembrance. www.visit-somme.com/great-war/ anzac-day-2020


May 8-10 Château de Taillis


Immerse yourself in the history of the Second World War at a gathering at Château de Taillis in Duclair, Normandy,


commemorating events of May 5, 1945. There will be nearly 80 vintage vehicles and more than 400 soldiers in uniform engaging in re-enactments in the grounds of the château.


http://chateaudutaillis.com/


Last year’s Normandy D-Day Festival commemorating 75 years since the D-Day Landings was pretty spectacular, and you won’t be disappointed this year either. The region has some fantastic events lined up for its four-day 2020 festival, from parachute drop re-enactments and football matches, to concerts, fireworks,


reconstructions of camps and a grand picnic on Omaha Beach. Check the link below for the full programme of activities. http://bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com/ blog/event/d-day-festival


Friday, June 5 Carentan-les-Marais


The town will kick off its D-Day commemorations at 11.30am with a parachute drop re- enactment. Later on in the day, there will be a ceremony in honour of the American paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, a ceremony at the Signal Monument opposite the town hall, a military parade, concert and fireworks. carentanlesmarais.fr


June 5-7


Normandie – World War Two International Film Festival The film festival, which is now in its fourth year, is being held at the D-Day Experience in June.


Join in with viewings and discussions of the best in war films. Headlining this year are actors and producers from the Band of Brothers mini-series, author Rick Atkinson, and acclaimed actor David McCallum. https://wwiifoundation.org/ film-festival


Saturday, June 6 Juno Beach Centre


The Juno Beach Centre is the venue for a D-Day ceremony on June 6 at 10.30am. It will pay tribute to the Canadian soldiers who fell, along with their British brothers in arms. www.junobeach.org/events/ ceremonie-commemorative-du- jour-j-4


June 19-July 25


Des Flammes à la Lumière Visit the extraordinary spectacle that is Des Flammes à la Lumière, in Verdun – a sound and light show starting at 7pm that takes you to the heart of the action at the Battle of Verdun in the First World War. Brand new for this year, you can experience life in a trench and find yourself right in the middle of a fight. Scenes include Verdun firefighters at work and the first ever air battle. It really is hair-raising stuff… www.connaissancedelameuse.com


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IMAGE © MUSÉE DE LA GRANDE GUERRE


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