Cimetiere Militaire Britannique (War Cemetery), Bayeux (must see)

The Bayeux War Cemetery -the largest of its kind in France, stands as a profound testament to the sacrifices made during one of the most significant chapters of the Second World War. This sacred ground holds deep historical significance, as it encompasses the graves of servicemen originally interred on battlefields and those who succumbed to their injuries in military hospitals in Bayeux.

Initiated during the war by the 48th Graves Concentration Unit—a unit dedicated to the recovery, identification, and burial of the fallen—the cemetery was completed in 1952. Today, it serves as the eternal resting place for over 4,100 Commonwealth servicemen, with nearly 340 remaining unidentified. Additionally, the cemetery honors approximately 500 servicemen from other nations.

Opposite the Bayeux War Cemetery stands the Bayeux Memorial, bearing the names of more than 1,800 men and women of the Commonwealth land forces who fell during Operation Overlord and have no known grave. The memorial, along with the cemetery, was designed by Philip Hepworth, and its Latin inscription commemorates the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066. It reads: “We, once conquered by William, have now set free the Conqueror’s native land.”

Every year, veterans of D-Day gather at the cemetery in June to pay their respects to fallen comrades who now rest in peace within its hallowed grounds. The cemetery is open daily, welcoming all who wish to pay homage to the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.