Colleville-sur-Mer

Colleville-sur-Mer (, literally Colleville on Sea) is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandie region in northwestern France.

History
It was originally a farm owned by a certain Koli, a Scandinavian settler in the Middle Ages. It shares the same etymology as the other Colleville in Normandy. During the conquest of England by William the Conqueror or following it, Gilbert de Colleville was given lands in England, it was from this Knight that the modern de Colville/Colvin family would develop, also including Clan Colville in Scotland and the Barony de Colville, of Castle Bytham in England.

The beach next to the coastal village was one of the principal beachheads during the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, designated Omaha Beach.

Sights

 * Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is located in Colleville-sur-Mer.
 * Notre-Dame de l'Assomption de Colleville: dated to the 12th or 13th century, a historical monument since 1840.
 * Overlord Museum is located in Colleville-sur-Mer.