Omaha Beach, Normandy

Omaha Beach is the D-Day landing sector on the Calvados coast of Normandy, about 8 km long, with Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer near its centre and Colleville-sur-Mer and the Normandy American Cemetery to the east. It is a public beach, free at all hours, and suits anyone interested in the Second World War, families with older children and visitors touring the landing beaches from Bayeux or Caen.

Bluffs, valleys and the Omaha landing sector

Omaha was the code name for the landing sector in the middle of the Calvados coast, stretching from west of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to east of Vierville-sur-Mer. Bluffs 30 to 50 metres high rise behind the sand, and in 1944 only five small valleys, known as draws, offered a way inland. The Germans guarded the draws with about 15 strongpoints, numbered WN-60 to WN-74.

On 6 June 1944 troops of the US 29th Infantry Division landed on the western half and the 1st Infantry Division on the eastern half, with Ranger companies joining the western assault, against the German 352nd Infantry Division. American casualties are estimated at about 2,400, the highest of the landing beaches, and the 352nd lost about 1,200 men. By nightfall around 34,000 American troops had come ashore.

Inscribed on the UNESCO list in July 2026

In July 2026 the World Heritage Committee, meeting in Busan, inscribed "The D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy, 1944" on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Omaha is one of six components, with Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches and the Pointe du Hoc.

Bunkers near Vierville and the Les Braves sculpture

Remains of German bunkers and gun positions survive on the slopes, especially near Vierville and Colleville, beside memorials to the units that landed. On the sand at Saint-Laurent stands Les Braves, a stainless steel sculpture in three parts by Anilore Banon, unveiled for the 60th anniversary of D-Day in June 2004. At low tide the sand stretches far out, which shows the distance the troops had to cross.

The Normandy American Cemetery

On the bluff above the eastern end of the beach, the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer covers 172.5 acres and holds 9,389 burials. The Walls of the Missing carry almost 1,600 names, with rosettes marking those since recovered and identified. It was dedicated in 1956 and is the most visited cemetery of the American Battle Monuments Commission, with more than a million visitors a year. A visitor centre, dedicated on 6 June 2007, stands about 100 metres east of the Garden of the Missing. The flag is lowered in a ceremony one hour before closing. The path from the cemetery down to the beach has been closed since 2016, so use the public beach access nearby.