Visiting Bayeux by bike: D-Day Landing beaches and Normandy countryside
3 days / 3 days riding / ref. NM2 / Difficulty Moderate / Star tourper person
Your cycling tour
Staying in Bayeux you are at the centre of history! You’ll find one of the most famous Romanesque artefacts [the famous Bayeux Tapestry] in this ancient medieval town with its rich architectural heritage. Close by are the World War II D-Day landing beaches Omaha and Gold.
Take a weekend to discover this small corner of Normandy and let yourself be guided on your bike ride by the charms of the small lanes which wind through the “bocage” countryside (small fields enclosed by hedges).
Tour highlights
- Discover pretty Normandy villages and the landing beaches for a weekend
- Tthe impressive Bayeux Tapestry
- Seulles valley and its nice "bocages"
Day 1Arrival in Bayeux + Excursion à Arromanches and Gold Beach | 44 km
Wander through the narrow streets of Bayeux and admire the stately merchant houses. Visit the cathedral of Notre Dame, a jewel of Romanesque architecture. The town houses one of the most impressive Norman/Romanesque historical treasures: the Bayeux Tapestry. This long-embroidered linen cloth was stitched in the 11th century to recount the events of the Norman conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy.
For your first bike excursion, ride 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. Come back to Bayeux riding through the Normandy countryside, biking down little lanes between the pretty hedged fields – the “bocage” !
arromanches360
The Arromanches 360 circular cinema presents a movie showing, in High Definition on 9 screens, amazing images from the archives, of the ‘100 days of the Normandie battle’. This movie honors the soldiers from different countries who took part into the Liberation and the thousands of civils killed during this battle. It gathers several unreleased images.
Day 2Excursion to Omaha Beach | 52 km + option 15 km
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.
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 3Excursion between Seulles Valley and Norman “bocage” | 44 km
Your final bike tour takes you along beautiful country lanes typical of the Bessin to see the Abbey of Juaye Mondaye. Founded in 1202 by the Premonstratensians, who are still in residence, the existing buildings are in the 18th century classical style. Continue on exploring the lovely views of the Seulles valley with its small lanes which criss-cross this appealing livestock farming country.
Departure at the end of the excursion.
Possibility to book an extra night in Bayeux.
Vergers-Ducy
Welcome to the farm! Follow the visit of the orchards, the cider caves, from the cellar to the Pommeau and Calvados aging. Follow the discovery of the cider’s production with a short movie. Before leaving, taste some products made at the estate with apples.
The little extra with Biking France (optional):
Our “Visit package”, with entrance fees to
. Arromanches 360 circular cinema
. Bayeux Tapestry Museum
. Familial farm with tasting of cidre & Calvados
Documents
> Download tour programSelect your category
Your accommodation
• 2 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (2 nights included)
• 2 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (2 nights included)
• 2 nights with breakfasts (accommodation in a two-person bedroom)
•
Luggage transport during the bike stages
•
Equipped cycle rental for 3 days
•
A personalized travel app, including all your cycling stages as well as tourist and practical information
•
City taxes
•
Hotline 7 days a week
• Dinners / Lunches / Drinks
•
Tickets to attractions, tours of attractions, tasting
•
Optional insurances (Cancellation Insurance OR Tranquility Insurance)
•
Single room supplement (2 nights included)
from 3 to 11 years old : - 20%
from 12 to 15 years old : - 10%
(Only if the triple or quadruple rooms are occupied by 2 adults minimum )
VÉLO DE VILLE «Trekking »
OPEN or CLOSED frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 handlebar pannier
- 1 repair kit
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided.
VÉLO DE VILLE « E-Bikes Premium »
UNIVERSAL frame
- 1 rear pannier
- 1 handlebar pannier
- 1 repair kit
- 1 lock
Helmet not provided.
Practical details
Bikes will be delivered at the 1st hotel.
At the end of the tour, leave the rental bikes at your hotel, we will pick them up.
Your travel app
You’ll have personalized access to our travel app, which you can download onto your smartphone.
This app includes all your cycling stages, tourist and practical content, as well as your accommodation. The application will guide you along your route, like a GPS, during your cycling stages.
In addition to the app, you’ll receive a complete digital roadbook by email, including color maps of your stages.
If you would like a printed version of the roadbook, please let us know when you book your trip. It will be provided at your first accommodation.
Your journey
Tour description
Mainly small traffic roads and some cycling paths.
Bike stages trip profiles
Excursion to Arromanches and Gold Beach : 47km / elevation gain: 318m / elevation loss: 318m
Excursion to Omaha Beach : 52km / elevation gain: 372m / elevation loss: 367m
Excursion to Seulles Valley : 44km / elevation gain: 374m / elevation loss: 367m
How to arrive in Bayeux
By train
Paris Saint-Lazare train station >> Bayeux train station (about 2h15 by train).
For more information, do not hesitate to visit : www.sncf.com/en
By plane
- From Roissy CDG airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Saint-Lazare train station >> Bayeux train station (by train).
– Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport 1 or 2 >> Paris centre – stop ‘Chatelet Les Halles >> Metro line 14 >> St Lazare train station >> Bayeux train station (by train).
www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/public-transport
www.transilien.com/en
www.ratp.fr/en/plans-lignes
- From Orly airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Saint-Lazare train station >> Bayeux train station (by train).
– Bus shuttle (Orly Bus) : from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Paris centre – stop ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 6 – station ‘Bercy’ + line 14 station ‘Gare St Lazare’ >> Bayeux train station (by train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlybus.php
– Orly Val (automatic metro): from Orly Sud or Ouest >> Paris – stop ‘Antony’ >> RER B – station ‘Denfert Rochereau’ >> Metro line 6 – station ‘Bercy’ + line 14 station ‘Gare St Lazare’ >> Bayeux train station (by train).
http://aeroportorly.paris/orlyval.php
- From Beauvais airport:
– Taxi transfer to Paris Saint-Lazare train station OR Bus shuttle >> Paris – stop ‘Porte Maillot’ >> Metro line 1 – station ‘Champs Elysées-Clemenceau’ + line 13 – station ‘Gare St Lazare’ >> Bayeux train station (by train).
www.aeroportparisbeauvais.com/en/acces-et-transports/navettes/
- From Caen airport:
– Taxi transfer to Caen train station >> Bayeux train station (by train).
– Bus shuttle: ‘Aéroport de Caen-Carpiquet’ – Line 3 direction ‘St Clair’ >> stop ‘Gare SNCF’ >> Bayeux train station (by train).
http://caen-airport.com/taxi-shuttle
www.twisto.fr
Return
If you have to return to Paris (city centre) / Paris Airports
- This return can be carry out by RandoVelo/Biking France: please contact us!
- A return transfer by bus + train is possible and organised on your own : www.sncf.com/en
Plan to go to the train station with your luggage.
(Personal bike return costs are on your responsibility)
– Bayeux (train station) >> Paris Saint-Lazare train station (by train)
– Bayeux (train station) >> Le Mans train station (by train) >> Roissy Charles de Gaulle T.2 train station (by TGV train)
Nearby Airports
– Caen airport : http://caen-airport.com
– Deauville airport : https://en.deauville.aeroport.fr
