U Boat Pens France
-
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 3:17 pm
- Been Liked: 92 times
- Has Liked: 32 times
U Boat Pens France
Me and a buddy are travelling down through France on motorcycles next month. Neither of us have visited any of the U Boat Pens.
We are crossing Portsmouth-Caen. I’ve been busy on Google, but I’m still unsure which of the U Boat Pen sites are the best to visit.
Anyone got any advice?
We’d like something with a visitor centre/museum/cafe.
Cheers
We are crossing Portsmouth-Caen. I’ve been busy on Google, but I’m still unsure which of the U Boat Pen sites are the best to visit.
Anyone got any advice?
We’d like something with a visitor centre/museum/cafe.
Cheers
-
- Posts: 638
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:29 am
- Been Liked: 111 times
- Has Liked: 406 times
- Location: brittany France
Re: U Boat Pens France
We live in Brittany and have visited the u boat pens at Lorient,the site is well signposted and has a visitor centre /museum and a cafe/bar.
I believe the pen at St Nazaire is being used by the French navy and access is not available,but check as things may have changed.
I believe the pen at St Nazaire is being used by the French navy and access is not available,but check as things may have changed.
-
- Posts: 638
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:29 am
- Been Liked: 111 times
- Has Liked: 406 times
- Location: brittany France
Re: U Boat Pens France
As you are arriving at Caen have you considered seeing the landing beaches in Normandy ?
-
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 3:17 pm
- Been Liked: 92 times
- Has Liked: 32 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
Thanks winsomeyen, Lorient it is.
We’re heading down south to visit a buddy…..D day beaches on the way back.
We’re heading down south to visit a buddy…..D day beaches on the way back.
This user liked this post: winsomeyen
-
- Posts: 330
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:21 am
- Been Liked: 60 times
- Has Liked: 259 times
- Location: Perth Australia
Re: U Boat Pens France
If you are visiting the Normandy Beaches the best place to visit from is Bayeux. Excellent military museum in the town and pretty central for the five beaches. The museum in Caen is poor.
This user liked this post: enduroclaret
-
- Posts: 2111
- Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2015 8:31 am
- Been Liked: 1150 times
- Has Liked: 1621 times
- Location: Worsthorne
Re: U Boat Pens France
I'd recommend a stop at Ranville to look around Pegasus Bridge & the museum on your way back. Probably only 20 mins outside Caen
This user liked this post: enduroclaret
-
- Posts: 4133
- Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2016 4:03 pm
- Been Liked: 1160 times
- Has Liked: 789 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
Don't miss the Easy Company memorial, it's just a short distance from Utah beach
https://www.normandywarguide.com/place/ ... e-memorial
https://g.co/kgs/bAb2Ro
https://www.normandywarguide.com/place/ ... e-memorial
https://g.co/kgs/bAb2Ro
This user liked this post: enduroclaret
Re: U Boat Pens France
Have you driven in France before? If you are not near a town on Saturday afternoon make sure you fill with petrol, when we rode there many of the petrol stations out in the sticks closed Saturday at 5 or 6 PM and did not open till Monday lunch time.
Re: U Boat Pens France
Know this area fairly well. U Boat pens are at Lorient.
I’d recommend the drive through St Mere l’ Eglise through to Utah beach on the way back and further across the gun batteries at Longues sur Mer.
I’d recommend the drive through St Mere l’ Eglise through to Utah beach on the way back and further across the gun batteries at Longues sur Mer.
These 2 users liked this post: winsomeyen enduroclaret
-
- Posts: 6652
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:03 am
- Been Liked: 2006 times
- Has Liked: 3347 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
I saw the ones at St Nazaire many years ago and they were extremely interesting, but may not be accessible any more as someone posted above.
-
- Posts: 1256
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:23 am
- Been Liked: 495 times
- Has Liked: 219 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
How far down are you going?
If you’re anywhere near Limoges (west central France) you should visit Oradour-sur-Glane.
Look it up on Wikipedia and you’ll understand why.
If you’re anywhere near Limoges (west central France) you should visit Oradour-sur-Glane.
Look it up on Wikipedia and you’ll understand why.
This user liked this post: Dark Cloud
-
- Posts: 6652
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:03 am
- Been Liked: 2006 times
- Has Liked: 3347 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
Definitely! Extremely eerie place, but absolutely fascinating (if that's the right word?) and also very moving.IWOODLOVETT wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:42 amHow far down are you going?
If you’re anywhere near Limoges (west central France) you should visit Oradour-sur-Glane.
Look it up on Wikipedia and you’ll understand why.
-
- Posts: 750
- Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2022 10:18 pm
- Been Liked: 339 times
- Has Liked: 39 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
Don’t forget to take in the Palais Benedictine in Fecamp
-
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 3:17 pm
- Been Liked: 92 times
- Has Liked: 32 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions, much appreciated.
My bike has a range of about 150 miles, so I’ll top up as often as I can. I’ve had fuel anxiety in France before!
I’ve been to Oradour-Sur-Glane before, but my riding companion hasn’t, so we’ll visit.
We’re keeping to small roads, travelling light, so not camping, the bikes are pretty lightweight.
On the outward leg We’ll head South West out of Caen to Lorient, then South East to Payrac (about 100 miles south of Limoges) we’ll do a couple of overnight stops.
We’re stopping at a friend’s at Payrac and riding the local trails for a couple of days.
On the return leg we’ll head pretty much due North taking in Oradour. Two overnight stops, we can have a day at the Normandy Beaches as the ferry isn’t until 22:45.
So any recommendations about accommodation of things to see is much appreciated.
My bike has a range of about 150 miles, so I’ll top up as often as I can. I’ve had fuel anxiety in France before!
I’ve been to Oradour-Sur-Glane before, but my riding companion hasn’t, so we’ll visit.
We’re keeping to small roads, travelling light, so not camping, the bikes are pretty lightweight.
On the outward leg We’ll head South West out of Caen to Lorient, then South East to Payrac (about 100 miles south of Limoges) we’ll do a couple of overnight stops.
We’re stopping at a friend’s at Payrac and riding the local trails for a couple of days.
On the return leg we’ll head pretty much due North taking in Oradour. Two overnight stops, we can have a day at the Normandy Beaches as the ferry isn’t until 22:45.
So any recommendations about accommodation of things to see is much appreciated.
Re: U Boat Pens France
Another shout for Lorient for sub pens... Arromanche is a good visit for the D Day Beaches and also The Glider landings at "Pegasus Bridge"
Bayeaux is a good day out too
Bayeaux is a good day out too
This user liked this post: enduroclaret
-
- Posts: 23343
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:09 pm
- Been Liked: 8058 times
- Has Liked: 4714 times
- Location: Riding the galactic winds in my X-wing
Re: U Boat Pens France
Not WWII related, but you have to see the Bayeux Tapestryenduroclaret wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 10:11 amThanks everyone for the advice and suggestions, much appreciated.
My bike has a range of about 150 miles, so I’ll top up as often as I can. I’ve had fuel anxiety in France before!
I’ve been to Oradour-Sur-Glane before, but my riding companion hasn’t, so we’ll visit.
We’re keeping to small roads, travelling light, so not camping, the bikes are pretty lightweight.
On the outward leg We’ll head South West out of Caen to Lorient, then South East to Payrac (about 100 miles south of Limoges) we’ll do a couple of overnight stops.
We’re stopping at a friend’s at Payrac and riding the local trails for a couple of days.
On the return leg we’ll head pretty much due North taking in Oradour. Two overnight stops, we can have a day at the Normandy Beaches as the ferry isn’t until 22:45.
So any recommendations about accommodation of things to see is much appreciated.
-
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 3:17 pm
- Been Liked: 92 times
- Has Liked: 32 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
Yes, I’ve seen the Bayeux Tapestry as a 7 year old……it’s time for another visit.
Re: U Boat Pens France
I worked in St.Nazaire for a couple of years and when friends and family visited a trip to see the U-boat bunkers was a must do and well worth a visit. They did a tour of a submarine, not a U boat but actually a stripped out French nuclear sub from the early sixties, very claustrophobic. You can also take a virtual trip on the first cruise liner to sail from St.Nazaire to New York which is well worth doing.
This user liked this post: enduroclaret
Re: U Boat Pens France
If you have time St Mer Eglise Church and The Omaha Beach Rangers Museum at Pointe_du_Hocenduroclaret wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 10:35 amYes, I’ve seen the Bayeux Tapestry as a 7 year old……it’s time for another visit.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... if6u4ceSXW
This user liked this post: enduroclaret
-
- Posts: 23343
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:09 pm
- Been Liked: 8058 times
- Has Liked: 4714 times
- Location: Riding the galactic winds in my X-wing
Re: U Boat Pens France
Years since I've been, but I remember La Rochelle being worth a visit for the castle and walls
This user liked this post: enduroclaret
-
- Posts: 1256
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:23 am
- Been Liked: 495 times
- Has Liked: 219 times
Re: U Boat Pens France
There’s a handy camp site near Calais and you can avoid the crush for the ferries by using the regular cross-channel rib service. Book early to avoid disappointment.
These 2 users liked this post: Bosscat enduroclaret