<P> Spielberg wanted an almost exact replica of the Omaha Beach landscape for the movie , including similar sand and a bluff similar to the one where German forces were stationed and a near match was found in Ireland . The D - Day scenes were shot in Ballinesker Beach , Curracloe Strand , Ballinesker , just east of Curracloe , County Wexford , Ireland . Hanks recalled to Roger Ebert that although he realized it was a movie , the experience still hit him hard , stating , `` The first day of shooting the D - Day sequences , I was in the back of the landing craft , and that ramp went down and I saw the first 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 rows of guys just getting blown to bits . In my head , of course , I knew it was special effects , but I still was n't prepared for how tactile it was . '' Filming began June 27 , 1997 , and lasted for two months . Some shooting was done in Normandy , for the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville - sur - Mer and Calvados . Other scenes were filmed in England , such as a former British Aerospace factory in Hatfield , Hertfordshire , Thame Park , Oxfordshire and Wiltshire . Production was due to also take place in Seaham , County Durham , but government restrictions disallowed this . </P>
<P> Spielberg wanted an almost exact replica of the Omaha Beach landscape for the movie , including similar sand and a bluff similar to the one where German forces were stationed and a near match was found in Ireland . The D - Day scenes were shot in Ballinesker Beach , Curracloe Strand , Ballinesker , just east of Curracloe , County Wexford , Ireland . Hanks recalled to Roger Ebert that although he realized it was a movie , the experience still hit him hard , stating , `` The first day of shooting the D - Day sequences , I was in the back of the landing craft , and that ramp went down and I saw the first 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 rows of guys just getting blown to bits . In my head , of course , I knew it was special effects , but I still was n't prepared for how tactile it was . '' Filming began June 27 , 1997 , and lasted for two months . Some shooting was done in Normandy , for the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville - sur - Mer and Calvados . Other scenes were filmed in England , such as a former British Aerospace factory in Hatfield , Hertfordshire , Thame Park , Oxfordshire and Wiltshire . Production was due to also take place in Seaham , County Durham , but government restrictions disallowed this . </P>
where was saving private ryan beach scene filmed
where was saving private ryan beach scene filmed
Ballinesker Beach , Curracloe Strand , Ballinesker , just east of Curracloe , County Wexford , Ireland
Ballinesker Beach , Curracloe Strand , Ballinesker , just east of Curracloe , County Wexford , Ireland