IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES. The coast of Calvados was set ablaze, 18 fireworks lit and 20 km of traffic jams

Almost everywhere on the dikes of the municipalities of Calvados coastline between Grandcamp-Maisy and Merville-Franceville, who had decided to participate in the burning of the coast on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Landing, the street lights went out around 11:25 p.m., this Saturday, June 1, 2024. A sign announcing the imminence of the spectacle. It was then that 11:30 p.m. sharp, the Calvadosian coast was set ablaze in 18 points, 21 by adding two communes in La Manche, and Bénouville south of Ouistreham.

A 9 minute show

The colors of France to begin with, then brighter lights, and also much whiter, smoky scenes, as if to evoke, perhaps, the shock of combat.

The raindrops being absent, the show was able to take place without incidentdespite the wind blowing from the sea.

The show lasted a total of nine minutes. Not one more, with a final bouquet multiplied in as many times as there were firing points.

More than 20 km of traffic jam

Of the thousands of spectators responded on the coast. The authorities expected more than 50,000 people, in addition to people residing on the coast, or present for the weekend.

More than 20 km of very strong slowdowns were recorded just on the Côte de Nacre around midnight, after the conflagration, when many people returned to their vehicles. For example, it took 45 minutes to return to the entrance to Caen from Lion-sur-Mer, compared to 15 minutes usually.

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