The servers of the federation of Norman tour guides (guidesdenormandie.fr) are heating up this month of February.
This is particularly the case since the 12th and the launch of an operation carried out jointly with the Normandy region: 80 visits offered for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.
“The platform was stormed,” says Jean-Charles Stasi, guide and member of the federation office.
The visits have 25 places.
Much of it is complete.
It's until May but you shouldn't delay!
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And these free visits are exclusively reserved for Normans to “allow as many people as possible to discover or rediscover these memorial places”, in the words of Hervé Morin, the president of the Region, in a press release.
The 80th anniversary of D-Day, in June, is approaching, all guided tours are more popular than ever and the guides are already buzzing.
We are interested in civilians during the War
“The federation asked them to be unusual for this operation,” specifies Jean-Charles Stasi of the guides federation.
Thus, one of the visits will take the form of a comic book rally and a treasure hunt in Caen.
In April, in Saint-Pierre-en-Auge, another will be devoted to… the use of plants during the Occupation.
On March 9, Normans will also be able to discover the history of the Saint-Désir cemetery, near Lisieux, where Allied and German soldiers were buried side by side.
“There is also the emphasis on the theme of civilians,” continues the guide, citing the example of visits to women in the battle of Caen or even a focus on children in Bayeux during the Occupation.
“Several colleagues are offering new ideas, new perspectives, particularly on Norman civilians during the war,” confirms Christophe Gosselin, also a member of the federation.
There is a lot of work done by the guides to understand.
It is a sensitive memory material.
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Also read: The historic day of the last French hero of D-Day
Corinne Vervaeke has created new tours around the D-Day landings for 2024: “In the British sector, a tour told in the style of
a
witness to the era”.
Or even a time at the Bény-Reviers cemetery, on June 1st and 8th, with an animation.
“I will have the children present make an origami dove with the name of a soldier written inside so that they remember it,” announces the guide.
Free entertainment.
“I have a job but also a mission of memory,” explains Corinne Vervaeke, keen to rely as much as possible on testimonies collected over the years.
Norman guides expect memorable commemorations.
“The 75th anniversary broke records.
The further we get from 1944, the more interesting it is.
This year will be the last big anniversary with the last veterans.
The reservations are phenomenal,” says Jean-Charles Stasi.
Enough to stimulate zealous involvement.
Christophe Gosselin is involved in the organization of a free concert at Bayeux Cathedral in the presence of around sixty American veterans.
“In a world still at war today, we must understand our History so we get involved.
It’s a popular job as an educator,” asserts the guide.
To take advantage of it, you won't have to wait to book...