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Overview
The Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in France covers 28 acres of rolling farm country near the eastern edge of Brittany and contains the remains of 4,404 of our war dead, most of whom lost their lives in the Normandy and Brittany Campaigns of 1944. Along the retaining wall of the memorial terrace are inscribed the names of 500 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.
The gray granite memorial, containing the chapel as well as two large operations maps with narratives and flags of our military services, overlooks the burial area. Stained glass and sculpture embellish the structure. The cemetery is located on the site of the temporary American St. James Cemetery, established on August 4, 1944 by the U.S. Third Army. It marks the point where the American forces made their breakthrough from the hedgerow country of Normandy into the plains of Brittany during the offensive around Avranches, France.
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Cemetery Information
Visiting Hours
The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the visitor building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.
Contact Us
Brittany American Cemetery
Bel Orient
50240
Montjoie Saint Martin
France
Directions
GPS Coordinates:
48°
31'
12"
N
,
1°
18'
4"
W
Brittany American Cemetery lies one and a half miles southeast of the village of St. James (Manche), France, 12 miles south of Avranches, and 14 miles north of Fougères.
Travel via Car:
It may be reached by car from Paris in about three and a half hours via toll highway A-13 to Caen. Then travel on the A-84 in the direction of Rennes. Take exit 32 for St. James.
Travel via Train:
By train from Paris, take the TGV to Rennes from either the CDG2 station at Charles de Gaulle Airport (just less than three hours) or the Paris Montparnasse station (two hours), and then a local train from Rennes to Pontorson (45 minutes).
Travel via Airplane:
Paris is about 225 miles from the cemetery.
Rennes also offers an airport, which has rail connections to Pontorson. The cemetery is a 45 minute drive from Pontorson.
Travel via Public Transportation:
Taxis are available at Pontorson station.
Lodging:
Hotels are available in St. James, Avranches, Pontorson and Mont St. Michel.
Publications
News & Events
Download this infographic to see where ABMC sites are located throughout the world.
Experience the history of World War II through a new interactive timeline. View maps, watch videos, see photos and read about the events that shaped the war.
Plan a visit to an ABMC site on Veterans Day to honor the fallen. Ceremonies are planned in France, England, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Philippines, and the Netherlands.
During Veterans Day weekend ABMC sites paid tribute and honored those men and women that are buried and memorialized overseas.