Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery
Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery
Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery
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31 reviews
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Its_the_GPS_fault
Region of Waterloo, Canada3 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
It is difficult to explain the contrast between the sense of peace and quiet reflection that flows over you in this cemetery today and the horrors of the war that most of us fortunately only know through books, movies and possibly relatives' accounts. The serenity of the setting and the well maintained graves impress themselves on you as soon as you begin your visit. What struck our family most though were the ages inscribed on the gravestones. While most of those who died were in their early 20s, more than a few soldiers were as young as 16, 17 and 18. According to a plaque on site, the 2,872 Canadians buried here died during the battles for Caen and the closing of the Falaise Gap during July and August of 1944. There are also 80 British, 4 Australian, 1 New Zealand and 1 French graves.
This cemetery is roughly halfway between Caen and Falaise alongside the N158 highway. If you are driving from Caen, you will see the Bretteville cemetery on your right about 2 km before the exit to Cauvicourt. I suspect that this cemetery has fewer visitors than those near the D-Day beaches because of its location, however it is well worth visiting.
This cemetery is roughly halfway between Caen and Falaise alongside the N158 highway. If you are driving from Caen, you will see the Bretteville cemetery on your right about 2 km before the exit to Cauvicourt. I suspect that this cemetery has fewer visitors than those near the D-Day beaches because of its location, however it is well worth visiting.
Written January 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert A
Penkridge, UK17 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
This was the first Canadian cemetery I have visited and it as moving as the British and German. It is hard to understand in this modern world why all these young men came thousands of miles to fight and die for Britain and they deserve our respect. Just like La Cambe this cemetery is by a busy road but when you enter them the noise is lost as you go from grave to grave thinking about those dreadful days in the summer of 1944 and what it cost in human terms.
Written August 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Banff2013
Banff, Canada674 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
We saw signs on the way to Juno Beach Centre decision was made let’s visit
Seeing this Canadian cemetery was touching experience
It’s nicely taken care of.
Seeing this Canadian cemetery was touching experience
It’s nicely taken care of.
Written February 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GoodFood88
Washington DC, DC990 contributions
Jul 2013 • Solo
I have been to many war cemeteries in Europe now, and this one seemed more touching that onthers. The simple stones with sayings on them, presumably from the familes, made it much more personal. It was well laid out, but you can see there are not a lot of visitors here, which is a shame for such a well maintaned place. It is worth your time to visit.
Written August 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TNKKAK
37 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
On 1May, at the start of our 5-day stay in Normandy, to visit many of the D-Day sites, we stopped at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in Cintheaux.
We visited Eric K. Pearcey who is buried there. He was the uncle of a dear friend in Montreal … the niece he never knew.
As with the other Commonwealth Cemeteries we visited: Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Ryes War Cemetery and Bayeux War Cemetery as well as LaCambe German War Cemetery and Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer – the grounds were immaculately and respectfully maintained. We were the only ones there on a lovely Spring day; it was so serene and, except for the birds chirping, there was only silence. It is difficult to imagine how different this beautiful region would have been during the carnage of the Normandy campaign in the Summer of 1944.
Lest We Forget.
We visited Eric K. Pearcey who is buried there. He was the uncle of a dear friend in Montreal … the niece he never knew.
As with the other Commonwealth Cemeteries we visited: Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Ryes War Cemetery and Bayeux War Cemetery as well as LaCambe German War Cemetery and Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer – the grounds were immaculately and respectfully maintained. We were the only ones there on a lovely Spring day; it was so serene and, except for the birds chirping, there was only silence. It is difficult to imagine how different this beautiful region would have been during the carnage of the Normandy campaign in the Summer of 1944.
Lest We Forget.
Written May 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M&MCanucks
North Bay, Canada155 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
We have visited twice as a family member is buried in this Cemetery. It is amazing how Veterans Canada can direct you right to the gravesite when you enter a Veterans name in their database. The people there care for the Cemetery extremely well and respect visitors when they arrive by turning off lawn mowers or leaf blowers.
Written June 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hillaire
Gouvix, France583 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
I live nearby and often make the small detour to visit. It is as if time stand still here; I can imagine coming back 100 or more years from now and everything would be just the same within the walls, whilst the world outside moves on, a fitting tribute I think.
It is true that there are very few visitors, rarely more than one or two cars in the parking space, more often none at all, but it is always immaculately kept and very beautiful.
If you are visiting Normandy and are at all interested in D Day and the ensuing battle do make the effort to visit this special place, you will not regret it.
It is true that there are very few visitors, rarely more than one or two cars in the parking space, more often none at all, but it is always immaculately kept and very beautiful.
If you are visiting Normandy and are at all interested in D Day and the ensuing battle do make the effort to visit this special place, you will not regret it.
Written May 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jin1955jan
London, UK75 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
26/06/19
We found your place of rest with the help of a lovely French gardener. So peaceful and so humbling thank you our French friends for keeping everything beautiful. My dad is 95 and this visit means the world to him. God bless them all
We found your place of rest with the help of a lovely French gardener. So peaceful and so humbling thank you our French friends for keeping everything beautiful. My dad is 95 and this visit means the world to him. God bless them all
Written June 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LibbyBuche
Plainfield, IN125 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
The cemetery was so meticulously groomed. The flowers that adorned the monuments were lovely. There were very few people the day we visited, so it was extremely peaceful and birds were singing. It was a lovely experience.
Written May 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DAVID L
Los Angeles, CA8,082 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
So many Allied nations took part in D-Day & the battles in Normandy that some seem to get overlooked for their contributions until history is studied and reflected upon. Such is this cemetery, well known to Canadians, but perhaps lesser so to other Allies. It is a respectful final resting place for those who gave their all, and is definite worth visiting and honoring. ...
Written October 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
I will be in northern France in October 2015 travelling with my 71-year-old mother. We will be on a river cruise and would like to visit her uncle's grave at Bretteville-sur-Laize cemetery. I am trying to find the least strenuous way of getting there. Just wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a car service. I know we can take the train to Caen and then take a taxi....just think it might be easier for my mother if we had a direct car service from the ship to the cemetery and back.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tracy in Canada
Written July 22, 2015
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