Formerly called Colleville-sur-Orne, commune Colleville-Montgomery, classified Green Station, located in the department of Calvados in Normandy region. With nearly 2300 inhabitants, lies on the Côte de Nacre, on part of Sword Beach, one of the landing places. The city is located four kilometers from Ouistreham and ten kilometers from Caen and its tourist sites.
Colleville-Montgomery consists of three localities, Colleville-Plage overlooking the English Channel and Collevillette Colleville-Bourg. It takes its current name of the famous British General Montgomery who led the troops who landed June 6, 1944 in Colleville. The town knows indeed a story related to this great historic event.
Dynamic and pleasant, the common Colleville-Montgomery is popular with visitors for its sandy beach, as well as for its historical heritage mainly turned to the Second World War.
Colleville-Montgomery has a very interesting historical heritage but also natural, that seduces all its visitors.
Green Station, Colleville-Montgomery has a beautiful beach which is part of Sword Beach. Located on the town of Colleville-Plage, it has a lifeguard all summer, and you can also find a sailing club. Two memorials pay tribute to the action of the first battalion of marines commander Kieffer commandos, as well as Bill Millin, a British soldier playing the bagpipes at the time of landing. A natural dune 670 linear meters offers a beautiful place to walk along the coast.
The Church of St. Vigor is dedicated to a former bishop of Bayeux. It was built in the eleventh and twelfth centuries and listed historic monument in 1927. It still has two choirs and a beautiful Romanesque nave.
The fortified site Hillman was built by the Germans during World War II in 1942. One can discover no less than eighteen concreted underground locations fully restored in the 1990s Guided tours in summer allow to learn a more about the history of the city during the war.
Commissioned by Hillman, Morris battery is located near the site. It presents four guns protected by bunkers. Today, we can see a very good condition, the others are buried.
Oldest redoubt is a military fortification designed on the plans of the famous Vauban. Defense against England, it was built in the late eighteenth century. You can still admire a half down the street from the Redoubt.
In the town, a century mansion has been listed historical monument.
In Colleville-Bourg, the wood of the great Caprice over 70 hectares has been classified sensitive natural area by the Calvados. You can see such a wide variety of wildlife.
Dans les pas des "Kieffer" | RDV Découverte
- On 14 may 2024
- Intersection Bd Maritime et Av de Bruxelles, Statue de Bill Millin
- 7:30 am, June 6,1944, troops of the British Third Infantry Division approach the Normandy coast. Among them were the men of Philippe Kieffer's commando unit. The tour takes you from the precise landing site at Colleville-sur-Orne to the Ouistreham casino, the primary objective of some of them. The tour starts at the foot of the Bill Millin statue in Colleville-Montgomery, at the corner of av. de Bruxelles and bd maritime, and ends 2.5 km from the Ouistreham casino (Bus 12 stop : Colleville plage). - The tour is led by Patricia Lengyel. - Practical informationAs places are limited, reservations are essential. Ticket sales open on January 11,2024, online and at tourist information offices in Caen and Ouistreham.
Concert du 80ème Anniversaire du Débarquement
- On 17 may 2024
- Eglise Saint Vigor, Rue Grande
- The Union Musicale de Ouistreham celebrates the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Saint Vigor church in Colleville-Montgomery with a musical program linked to the event. - Free admission
Sur les pas de la Résistance, Avec les Services Secrets à Londres Pour Préparer et Réussir le Débarquement
- On 30 may 2024
- Rue Saint André Zone artisanale, Salle Le Caprice
- Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the Resistance and the secret services during a captivating lecture by Ghislain Quetel, son of a Resistance member of the Groupe Louvel. Accompanied by archive images and commented slides, he takes us on a journey in the footsteps of the shadowy heroes who worked in London to prepare and ensure the success of the D-Day landings. Discover the secret operations behind the scenes, the strategies developed and the sacrifices made for freedom. A dive into history rich in emotion and poignant accounts, shedding new light on this crucial episode of the Second World War.
Il Faut Désobéir
- On 1 june 2024
- Rue Saint-André, Salle du Caprice
- Inspired by Didier Daeninckx's book of the same name, the show "Il faut désobéir" is imagined and presented by the Les Magiconteurs company, accompanied by CM classes from the local school where the event takes place. It's a way of introducing children to the history of the Second World War, and involving them in a large-scale local project combining history, emotion, music and song.
Embrasement de la Côte à Colleville Montgomery
- On 1 june 2024
- To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, the entire Normandy coast will be ablaze as night falls. Starting at 11:30 pm, 21 fireworks displays will highlight the major D-Day sites and pay tribute to the veterans who fought for freedom.
Soirée des Piper's | Ouverture du 80e Anniversaire
- On 2 june 2024
- Rue Saint-André, Salle Le Caprice
- To open the commemorations of this 80th Anniversary of the DébarqueInternational, with the support of the commune of Colleville-Montgomery, is organizing an evening of concerts & events.
Soirée d'Ouverture des Piper's
- On 2 june 2024
- Rue Saint-André, Salle Le Caprice
- To open the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, B.O.W.U International, with the support of the commune of Colleville-Montgomery, is organizing an evening of concerts and events. - D-Day exhibitors, food and drink, pipers' aubade, parade of vintage military vehicles ? - A free concert by Spoon O ? Porridge (Celtic folk) closes the evening. - The evening is also a charity event for the association. All proceeds go to support the organization and logistics of the ceremonies, and to welcome foreign musicians (from the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Europe, etc.).
Grande Parade Internationale des Pipers sur Sword Beach
- On 5 june 2024
- Place du Débarquement
- To mark this 80th anniversary, over 12 nations (between 70 and 120 musicians expected) will be represented among the musicians : bagpipes and Scottish cases. - The parade will start a short distance from the Twin Villa, along the seawall (Boulevard Maritime) to Place du Débarquement. - Each band will march one after the other, representing its nation, before gathering around the statue of Bill Millin for a grand liberation mass band. - The greatest tunes will be played, including the famous Amazing Grâce, Highland Cathedral, Flower of Scotland and Skye Boat Song…
Camp Hillman 2024
- From 6 to 9 june 2024
- 7 Rue du Suffolk Regiment, Site Hillman
- Exhibition and reconstruction of a military and civilian camp with period vehicles and equipment. - Opening of the bunkers, the German command post on Sword Beach. Numerous events, commemorative march, tribute ceremony, inauguration of the Churchill tank, hairdressing workshop, period dance demonstration. - D-Day parade departing from the Hillman site for a parade between the communes of Colleville Montgomery and Ouistreham.
Camp de Reconstitution, Visite des Bunkers
- From 6 to 9 june 2024
- Site Hillman
- Exhibition and reconstruction of a military and civilian camp with period vehicles and equipment. Opening of the bunkers, the German command post on Sword Beach. Numerous events, commemorative march, tribute ceremony, inauguration of the Churchill tank, hairdressing workshop, demonstration of period dances and D-DAY parade, parade of period military and civilian vehicles from the Hillman site, between the towns of Colleville Montgomery and Ouistreham.
