This historic Normandy town played a crucial role on D-Day when American paratrooper John Steele famously got caught on its church steeple during the 1944 liberation.
Sainte-Mère-Église, a small town in Normandy's Manche department, draws visitors to its World War II sites and museums. Walk past the town church where a paratrooper mannequin hangs from the spire, step inside a genuine C-47 aircraft at the Airborne Museum, or watch butter being made using traditional methods at the Cotentin Farm Museum.
Getting to Sainte-Mère-Église
The town lies 24 miles southeast of Cherbourg and 8 miles north of Carentan. You can reach it by car via the national road connecting Cherbourg to Paris, or take regional buses from major Normandy cities.
Exploring the Airborne Museum
Located on Rue Eisenhower, the Airborne Museum spans three buildings: WACO, C-47, and Operation Neptune. Inside, you can climb aboard a restored Waco CG-4A glider and Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport plane. The exhibits include personal items from paratroopers, weapons, uniforms, and multimedia displays about the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions' D-Day operations.
Historical Walking Tour
Follow the 15-milestone walking tour through town to understand the events of June 1944. Start at the "Kilometre Zero" marker outside the Town Hall - the first point on the European Liberation Route that stretches across France. Each milestone describes specific events and locations from the town's wartime experience.
The Church and John Steele's Story
The 11th-century church stands at the town center, with the now-famous parachutist dummy representing John Steele on its spire. Inside, two stained glass windows commemorate D-Day - one shows the Virgin Mary surrounded by paratroopers, while another depicts St. Michael, the patron saint of paratroopers. Behind the church, pilgrims still visit the spring dedicated to Saint Mewan, believed to have healing properties.
Annual D-Day Commemorations
Every June, the town marks the D-Day landings with military ceremonies, living history camps, concerts, and parachute demonstrations at La Fière. The American flag flies over the town hall during these events, continuing a tradition that began in 1944.
Cotentin Farm Museum
The Ferme-musée du Cotentin, set in a former farm-manor, demonstrates early 20th-century rural life. Walk through the common room, see butter churning in the dairy, visit the cider press room, stables, and bakery. The farm keeps Normandy cattle breeds including auburn-colored Norman cows and white Cotentin cows, alongside displays of period farming equipment.
