4 days by bike: D-Day Beaches from Bayeux

Your cycle tour in Normandy:

Day 1 : Arrival in Bayeux + Excursion to Omaha Beach | 52 km (+ option 14 km)

Wander through the narrow streets of Bayeux and admire the stately merchant houses. Then bike to Vierville-sur-Mer and Omaha Beach, often called ‘bloody Omaha’ as the heaviest allied losses were suffered here. At the top of the cliff the American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer dominates the beach. Row upon row of headstones surrounded by emerald green grass and the ever present sea create a sense of peace and serenity. Return to Bayeux after an optional visit to the Overlord Museum.

You can extend the circuit by visiting La Pointe du Hoc cliffs [30 meters high]. Today one can still easily see traces of the damage caused to the fields by shell fire from the allied ships in the channel.

OptionVisit of the Overlord Museum (Included in the "Visit Package")

musée overloard

The museum presents a unique collection of reconnaissance aircrafts, flying bombs, tanks, vehicles and canons, hundreds of personal belongings, posters and documents combats’ witnesses. The 6 armies who took parts into the Normandy battles are represented through full-size scenes, recreated with a breathtaking realism.

Day 2 : Bayeux – Courseulles sur Mer | 36 km

Before getting back on your bike, do not forget to admire the impressive Norman/Romanesque historical treasures: the Bayeux Tapestry! Then head towards Longues-sur-Mer and its impressive German defensive battery, then continue on towards Gold Beach and, of course, Arromanches, Here you’ll be able to see the remains of the enormous artificial port constructed on the orders of Winston Churchill. Don’t forget to visit Arromanches 360°, a circular cinema which graphically illustrates the complete history of the Battle for Normandy. Continue your ride through the Normandy countryside, biking down little lanes between the pretty hedged fields – the “bocage”- until you reach Courseulles-sur-Mer. Take time to stroll round the picturesque fishing harbour.

OptionVisit of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum (Included in the "Visit Package")

bayeux museum

This is the most famous Tapestry in the world! You can discover it in 3 times. At the beginning of the visit, listen the audio-guided explanations as watching the Tapestry. Follow the visit in the exhibition room, giving information on the creation and the conservation of the Tapestry. End the visit by watching a movie about England conquest.

Day 3 : Courseulles sur Mer – Caen | 34 km

Bike along to Juno Beach and Sword Beach passing through small coastal villages and along fine sandy beaches to the port of Ouistreham. Either visit the museum of No. 4 Commando [all about the landing of the Franco-British forces], or continue on taking the bike path along the Caen canal. Don’t forget to enjoy the charms of Caen with its small harbour in the middle of town, its castle [Dukes of Normandy] and its imposing double monastery: l’Abbaye-aux-Hommes [men] and l’Abbaye-aux-Dames [women].

OptionVisit of the Memorial Pegasus (Included in the "Visit Package")

Mémorial Pegasus

Discover what happened the day before the D-Day! The Pegasus memorial presents the 6^th Airborne Division missions which consisted in the D-Day landings preparation. Numerous objects, photos, historical and moving memories from the Normandy’s region Liberation are exhibited. A Bailey bridge, the Bénouvile bridge (now called Pegasus bridge), the Horsa glider’s replica and numerous war vehicles are exhibited in the museum’s park.

Day 4 : Caen – Bayeux | 42 km

For your last stage, leave Caen to the unmissable Caen memorial, a museum dedicated to the battle for Normandy, 20th century history and peace. Proceed to the château de Fontaine-Henry, a magnificent Renaissance property that has remained in the same family for the past 800 years. It boasts among the highest castle roofs in France! Continue on exploring the lovely views of the Seulles valley with its small bocage roads which criss-cross this appealing livestock farming country, then arrive in Bayeux.
Departure at the end of the stage.

Possibility to book an extra night in Bayeux.

OptionVisit of the Caen Memorial Museum (Included in the "Visit Package")

Memorial Caen

The Caen Memorial Museum is a memorial for Peace! Follow 2 museography displays covering from 1939 to 1989: from the origins of WW2 to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Discover the war on a chronological way, explained, imaged, presenting numerous objects, witnesses from this period, French, but also Russians, Japanese, English, Germans, etc.

The little extra with Biking France (optional):

Our “Visit package”, with entrance fees to

. Overlord Museum
. Bayeux Tapestry Museum
. Memorial Pegasus
. Caen Memorial Museum