Sword Beach
About Sword Beach
Sword Beach was the easternmost of five Allied landing beaches on D-Day, June 6, 1944. British 3rd Infantry Division and 177 French commandos led by Philippe Kieffer landed here at 07:25, securing the crucial eastern flank of Operation Overlord. The 8-kilometer stretch of sand from Ouistreham to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer saw 28,845 troops come ashore with relatively light casualties of 630. Today visitors can walk the same beach where Allied soldiers landed, view the Flame Memorial honoring French commandos, and see preserved German bunkers along the coastline. The nearby Grand Bunker museum offers insight into Atlantic Wall defenses. Free and accessible year-round, the beach serves both as a WWII memorial site and a summer resort. June visits coincide with D-Day anniversary commemorations. Allow extra time to explore related sites including Pegasus Bridge and Hillman Fortress.
Interesting Facts
Piper Bill Millin played bagpipes throughout the entire Sword Beach assault, defying a British War Office ban on pipers in combat. When asked why German snipers didn't shoot him, captured soldiers later explained they thought he was crazy. His bronze statue now stands at Colleville-Montgomery at the western end of the beach.
The 177 French commandos who landed at Sword Beach were the only French ground troops to participate in the D-Day landings. Led by Commander Philippe Kieffer, they were tasked with capturing the fortified Riva Bella Casino, which German forces had converted into a concrete bunker complex.
The Flame Memorial at Sword Beach has exactly 7 steps, each representing one of the 7 French commandos killed between the waterline and the casino strongpoint. The names of all 177 French marines are inscribed on the monument, which was unveiled by President François Mitterrand on June 6, 1984.
The only major German armored counterattack on D-Day was launched against Sword Beach by the 21st Panzer Division at 16:00. German tanks briefly reached the coast between Sword and Juno beaches before being driven back by British tanks, naval gunfire, and the sight of 248 Allied gliders flying overhead.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Boulevard Aristide Briand, 14150 Ouistreham, France
Day Routes
Explore all day routesThese carefully curated day itineraries include this attraction and show you exactly how to plan your visit, including transport, timing, and what else to see nearby.
Want to visit this attraction? These routes show you how to get here and what to combine it with.
