Sainte-Mère-Église, Norman commune in Manche, France.
Sainte-Mère-Église is a commune in the Manche department of Normandy, uniting several merged settlements on flat ground between river and coast. Buildings spread loosely along a few roads that gather around a central square with church and administrative offices.
American paratroopers landed here in the night of June 6, 1944, and secured the settlement as one of the first points in occupied Europe. Since then, the commune has stood as a symbol of the Allied landing in Normandy.
The name honors a medieval church dedicated to the Mother of God, which still stands at the heart of the settlement. Visitors notice memorial plaques and military symbols on the façade, recalling the paratroopers of World War Two.
The central square is the best starting point for a walk, as shops, cafés, and information boards are gathered there. Those who wish to explore the surroundings will find quiet paths through meadows and fields around the settlement.
A parachute dummy hangs year-round from the church tower, recalling soldier John Steele who got stuck there during the landing. This installation has become a landmark, drawing many visitors who want to recreate the photograph.
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