Sainte-Mere-Eglise Church
Sainte-Mere-Eglise Church
Sainte-Mere-Eglise Church
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
924 reviews
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484
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pfefmeister
San Francisco, CA4,372 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We drove by to see the famous paratrooper hanging from the church. Honestly, it’s worth the trip, though the small village seems to have capitalized on this singular moment in history to promote their town. Good for them. Wander the square, take a few pictures, and wonder what it must have felt to be left hanging above the vengeful Germans.
Written May 2, 2024
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.
Regina P
Hannover, Germany3,570 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Actually a small, inconspicuous village church, if one of the American paratroopers hadn't gotten his parachute tangled on the top of the church tower. A dummy still reminds us of this today. There are stained glass windows in the church that show scenes with paratroopers that are unusual for a place of worship.
These events are also honored in the film “The Longest Day,” which was also filmed here at original locations.
These events are also honored in the film “The Longest Day,” which was also filmed here at original locations.
Written March 25, 2024
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.
andersUppsala
Uppsala, Sweden1,332 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
In the film The Longest Day from 1961, a scene from reality was depicted and it was the paratroopers' jump over Sainte-Mere-Eglise. It was interesting to be there and see it with my own eyes and almost feel the anguish of parachutist John Steele as he hung there and watched his comrades get shot down and then land. The church is worth a visit to see the stained glass windows depicting skydivers.
Written April 22, 2024
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.
NancyWeld
Columbus, OH227 contributions
Jun 2015 • Friends
This is a beautiful little church. The most humbling site is the stained glass window that has 2 american paratroopers descending during D-Day. If you're in St. Mere Eglise, you have to tour the church. On D-Day, they have a mannequin of John Steel, the American paratrooper who got stuck on the bell tower during the D-Day invasion. Watch the movie The Longest Day to learn about John and to see the town of St. Mere Eglise. Also, watch the movie The Mother of Normandy to learn about Mrs. Renaud, they mayor's wife who took it upon herself to care for the graves of American soldiers before and after WWII. Very touching.
Written June 19, 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.
2Ready2Retire
North Carolina136 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Great - there is NOTHING hilarious about this. It is a honorary tribute to a young man who volunteered to help the world stay free.
Written January 20, 2024
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.
mamaluvs2travel
Richmond, VA293 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Beautiful church set in a beautiful town. Lots of history and across from the Airborne Museum. Parachute still hangs near the top of the church to commemorate D-Day
Written December 29, 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.
Gwen
Dordrecht, The Netherlands305 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
A church of which they have many in these parts and this is by far but the nicest one I've seen.
Only gimmick is the mannequin with shoot still hanging on the tower.
I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.
Only gimmick is the mannequin with shoot still hanging on the tower.
I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.
Written August 14, 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.
James Weaver
Irvine, CA2,287 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Just steps away from the Airborne Museum, this small church is best known for the parachutist who landed on it's spire and was forced to "play dead" while the battle raged around him. A relpica, complete with white silk parachute, now fills with a slight breeze. Upon entering, I was struck by the beauty of the stained glass windows and alter. Not expecting this in this small village. The town seems to run according to the time set with the opening and closing of the museum. A short shopping area completes the third corner of the square, with residences along the forth. This was worth the time and distance travelled to reach from Honfleur.
Written January 2, 2017
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.
daltex972
Dallas, TX38 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
This 11th century Norman village of Sainte Mère-Église witnessed fierce fighting in the early hours of June 6, 1944 since it controlled access to the avenues of approach to and from Utah Beach, but is probably best known for its depiction in the film, The Longest Day, where John Steele's (ie, Red Buttons) parachute gets hung on the bell tower of the town square church. In reality, Pvt. John Steele snagged on the bell tower, while Pvt. Ken Russell’s chute was caught on a window when he landed hard on the slate roof. A third paratrooper, Sgt. John Ray, landed hard in the church square just below Steele and Russell. A number of interesting stories about events during those early hours of June 6th, as well as how the beautiful church stained glass windows were added to the church. Interesting and important history, but not a lot to see once you visit the church and perhaps the American Airborne Museum. We struggled to find an interesting place to eat, but ended up making a bad seletion at a site in the town square. If you want to learn more about actual events that took place here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacques_wood/2842315777/
Do not miss hearing Captain Ron Drez (a Vietnam veteran) of Ambrose Historical Tours talk about the night John Steele, Ken Russell and John Ray all dropped into Ste.-Mère-Église. -- http://vimeo.com/64359502
Do not miss hearing Captain Ron Drez (a Vietnam veteran) of Ambrose Historical Tours talk about the night John Steele, Ken Russell and John Ray all dropped into Ste.-Mère-Église. -- http://vimeo.com/64359502
Written July 17, 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.
jonzgirl
Missouri34 contributions
Jun 2011
We traveled here as part of a Normandy trip with another couple. All four of us grew up watching The Longest Day with our dads, and who could forget the scene where Pvt John Steele parachutes out of the plane and gets tangled up in the church steeple. We wanted to see the paratrooper dummy that has been placed there to commemorate the landing.
Imagine our delight when we drove up to hear the church bells pealing wildly, just as they were the night of the invasion! It was an extremely moving experience as we stood there and thought about the many men that died that night ensuring our freedom. There was a christening taking place and that was the reason for the bells.
We did not enter the church due to the fact it was being used, but just seeing the church and walking around the town square was enough for me to say, "don't miss it". The town square is delightful! There were pictures placed strategically throughout the square showing what the town had looked like shortly before or after the invasion. My husband would like to return for the 70th D-Day Invasion Reunion to meet some of the veterans and I would be more than willing to accompany him.
We toured the Airborne Museum which had a lot of interesting tidbits about the invasion. There was also some great aircraft artwork for sale if you like that sort of thing.
Imagine our delight when we drove up to hear the church bells pealing wildly, just as they were the night of the invasion! It was an extremely moving experience as we stood there and thought about the many men that died that night ensuring our freedom. There was a christening taking place and that was the reason for the bells.
We did not enter the church due to the fact it was being used, but just seeing the church and walking around the town square was enough for me to say, "don't miss it". The town square is delightful! There were pictures placed strategically throughout the square showing what the town had looked like shortly before or after the invasion. My husband would like to return for the 70th D-Day Invasion Reunion to meet some of the veterans and I would be more than willing to accompany him.
We toured the Airborne Museum which had a lot of interesting tidbits about the invasion. There was also some great aircraft artwork for sale if you like that sort of thing.
Written September 15, 2011
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.
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