(click here for map)

Our 1^st stop (around10:00) is the German Cemetery at Orglandes:

This German military cemetery is located in the small village of Orglandes. Here 10,152 German soldiers who fell during the Battle of Normandy rest. The site was originally a temporary American cemetery, but where German soldiers were also buried. The American soldiers were either transferred to the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer or transported back home. The cemetery was developed between 1956 and 1961 by the Volksbund on behalf of the German government and to the existing 7,758 German soldiers already buried there, additional bodies buried in field graves and smaller sites were added. The cemetery was officially opened on 20 September 1961 and the bodies are mostly grouped by four or six under a grey stone cross.

General Wilhelm Falley, the first German General killed in the Battle of Normandy (on the night of 5-6 June), is buried here. He was commander of the 91st Infantry Division. On D-Day, he was returning from Rennes, where a war game had been organized by the German High Command, to his Division headquarters, in Picauville and was killed in an ambush carried out by paratroopers of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division. He was one of the first to be awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross in 1941. Also buried here is General Heinz Hellmich. He served during the WW 1 and WW2 and was commander of the 243 Infantry Division stationed in the Cotentin Peninsula. This coastal defence division protected the western coast of the Cotentin Peninsula when the Allied invasion begun on 6 June 1944. He was killed while defending Cherbourg during the Invasion of Normandy on 17 June 1944 and was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross posthumously.

Our 2^nd stop (around11:30) is the town of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte:

Saint-Sauveur-Le-Vicomte is a large town composed of vast expanses of marshland and a large forest of 233 hectares. It owes its existence to its strategic location, situated in the very centre of the Cotentin and on the banks of the Douve. Its feudal castle (chateau), whose history is marked by a long presence of English troops and the fighting of the 100-year war, testifies to the military value of this position.

Here we will stop for lunch as well as visit:

• The feudal castle ruins which provide a wonderful photographic opportunity. By way of background - in the 13^th century, the lordship of the castle passed to Harcourt family and at the beginning of the Hundred Years’ War, the castle was in the hands of Geoffroy d’Harcourt who had pledged allegiance to King Edward III. Upon his death (November 1356) he bequeathed all of his possessions including the barony of Saint-Sauveur to the King of England, Edward III who took the opportunity of this inheritance to seize the Cotentin. The fortress was not recaptured until July 1375, at the end of what was the first major artillery siege in military history. The siege lasted 10 months and was instigated under the rule of Charles V who wanted to drive the English out of the last castle they still occupied in Normandy. On surrendering, the English are paid 50,000 francs of gold and return to England with weapons, luggage, honour and fortune. The ruins have been classified as a historical monument since 1840.

• The Barbey-d’Aurevilly Museum which is located in the house in which the French author Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly was born on 2 November 1808. He helped to animate French literary life in the second half of the 19th century. He was a novelist, poet, literary critic, journalist and dandy. A bronze bust of the author by Rodin can be seen at the entrance to the castle ruins

Having enjoyed the history and sights of this lovely town and a good lunch it is time for some exercise in the forest of Saint-Saveur-le- Vicomte.

Our 3rd stop (around14:00) is the state owned forest of Saint- Saveur-le-Vicomte

Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte has 223 hectares of woodland and was purchased by the state in the 1960s and is one of the few forest areas open to the public. Many streams irrigate the area, there are various walks available, an arboretum and a rich variety of trees remarkable for their shape and age: beech trees, old holly, Scots pines etc. as well as many birds. We will spend about 2 hours here either enjoying the pathways and sounds of the forest or just sitting quietly waiting for that elusive bird to be captured!

Once we have had our fill it is back to Morsalines via some country roads for a bit of rest and relaxation before viewing the snaps of the day and having something light to eat.