04 JAN 2019: June 6, 1944 – D-Day – marked the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany as Allied troops, including Canadians, initiated the largest amphibious operation in history, landing 300,000 troops on an 80-km stretch of Normandy coastline from a massive fleet of more than 5,000 ships – all while enduring relentless bombardment from the enemy.

June 6, 2019 and thereabouts will mark a Norman invasion of a different kind as visitors from North America, Britain and around the world flock to France to mark the 75th anniversary of the Allied landing and subsequent Battle of Normandy, which ultimately paved the way for the liberation of Europe from Adolph Hitler.

France will celebrate the historic milestone with military parades, fireworks, giant picnics, concerts, airdrops, and a gala international ceremony attended by the Allied heads of state on June 6.

The anniversary has not gone unnoticed by Canadian tour operators, who are marketing several tours catering to massive interest in the war, and in particular D-Day, which saw 14,000 Canadians take part, 5,000 of whom lost their lives. At the same time, 2019 is the 100th anniversary of the official end of the First World War, which was celebrated in France and around the globe.

Trafalgar focusses on both milestones with its D-Day Beaches and Battlefields 75th Anniversary tour – a journey through the battlefields of both WWI and WWII that explores the poignant moments of the Battle of Britain, D-Day Landing, infamous Somme and the Battle of Dunkirk. The four-country itinerary takes in museums, memorials and cemeteries that dot the French, Belgium and Dutch countryside, prompting Trafalgar Canada president Wolf Paunic to say, “Clients can honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we have today.”

Globus, meanwhile, promises that “history will come alive” on its WWII D-Day, Landing Beaches and Battle of Normandy five-day tour, which takes participants to some of the beaches where the battles took place as well as some of the museums and cemeteries that are a tribute to the Allied forces. Tour stops include German artillery bunkers, the D-Day Museum, Mulberry Harbor and the Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema, which uses archived images to tell the story of the Battle of Normandy. Of course, there’s also a visit to the Canadian Cemetery and Juno Beach Center, where there is an exhibition and memorial to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade that landed at Juno.

Insight Vacations has an eight-day Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley itinerary that includes a visit to the Normandy beaches and D-Day landing locations as guests follow the route of the US rangers, and visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc. Other highlights include a visit to the D-Day Museum, American Military Cemetery St-Laurent-sur-Mer near Omaha Beach, and Juno and Gold Beaches. (Insight has a separate Armistice excursion: the four-day World War 1 Battlefields).

Another intriguing option for those interested in the anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy is being offered by luxury cruise line Cunard, which is partnering with the Greatest Generations Foundation to pay tribute to six heroes of World War II onboard flagship Queen Mary 2. Thematic onboard programming will allow guests to hear first-hand accounts from WWII veterans – including two D-Day survivors – as they share their experiences of battle during the Transatlantic Crossing. Guests on the seven-night cruise, departing New York on May 24, will have the opportunity to attend lectures, Q&As and interact with several WWII veterans.

Full details and updates on D-day events in France can be found HERE.

Of course, it’s not all about the wars for France in 2019. Beyond the historic anniversaries, there are several other notable events:

• France will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup of soccer from June 7 to July 7 in nine cities: Grenoble, Le Havre, Montpellier, Nice, Reims, Lyons, Rennes, Valenciennes and Paris. Count Canada as one of the participants.
• The city of Caen will play host to the exceptional travelling exhibition of iconic Norman Rockwell paintings, Enduring Ideals: Rockwell, Roosevelt & the Four Freedoms, June 4-Oct. 27. Additionally, the Caen Memorial will inaugurate a new high-tech wing, which will feature a 360-degree immersive film experience on Europe’s 20th century.
• Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Armada of Rouen will take place June 5-16. Over 50 tall ships will sail in and dock along the Seine river banks of Rouen, Normandy’s capital city. This impressive gathering will include parades, balls, concerts and unexpected festivities. Among the tall ships: the replica of the Hermione, the frigate that ferried the Marquis de Lafayette to America in 1780.
• Known as the playground of the Kings of France, and remembered as the cradle of the French Renaissance, the Loire Valley will shine even brighter in 2019. The UNESCO World Heritage region will be celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the French Renaissance, which coincides with the anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death in France.
• The building of majestic Chateau de Chambord, whose staircase and design was inspired by Da Vinci’s ideal city, began in 1519. This inspired later Renaissance gems like Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, Valençay and Villandry. The program of events will include a large travelling digital show, an international architecture competition, banquets, and a wealth of exhibitions, including a virtual exhibit of Leonardo’s 17 masterpieces at the Chateau du Clos Lucé.
• Starting April 27, and through early December, the northern city of Lille will be effervescent —indoors and out—with contemporary art exhibits, installations and other events. A great open-air kick-off will launch “Eldorado: Lille 3000,” a huge citywide fete held every three years. Lille will also host a major Giacometti retrospective featuring over 150 works at its Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art from March 13 to June 11.
• Elegant Montpellier will welcome a new contemporary art centre in July which will be known as Le MoCo.