Updated on 19 October 2020
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If you’re looking for a little inspiration for your next cycling trip to Normandy, you’ve come to the right place. From short to multi-day rides, from foodie to historical trails, discover our full collection of cycle routes across the region. Find the perfect one for you by clicking on any of the cycle routes below to see a full breakdown of the route, distances, elevation, and heritage sites or hidden gems along the way. Feel free to download, print or share!
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La Vélo Francette - Voie verte de Ouistreham à Caen - Canal de l'Orne
Further information
Services
Green way, Bicycle path
IGN MAP
OPEN STREET MAP
Starting point
Colleville-Montgomery beach
Fine sandy beach with waters often ‘A’ quality classified. The seafront environment, as the village centre, has been rewarded 5 times over with the European blue flag.
This beach was one of the theatres of the D-Day Landings on the 6th of June 1944.
Sword Beach
The most easterly of the D-Day Landing Beaches, Sword Beach is the codename given to those stretching from Colleville-Montgomery to Ouistreham Riva-Bella. It is the only beach upon which French troops landed on D-Day.
Led by Commandant Kieffer, 177 French soldiers from the 1e Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos, landed on Sword Beach along with British troops on the 6th of June 1944.
The French commando liberated part of Riva-Bella, whereas the British troops were in charge of the east beach sector and Ouistreham’s harbour and town centre.
Ouistreham Riva Bella beach
In Ouistreham Riva-Bella, on the long fine sandy beach, bathers rub shoulders with water sports enthusiasts (sailing, seakayaking, land yachting, stand-up paddling) in specially reserved sectors, a range of activities are on offer to all.
Musée Mémorial Pegasus
The Pegasus Memorial Museum, located between Caen and the sea, tells the story of when the very first liberators from the British 6th Airborne Division landed on Norman soil on the night of the 5th to the 6th of June 1944. Period documents, films and objects. Guided tours of the museum, of Pegasus Bridge and of the reproduction of a WWII glider. Guided tour in French or English lasts: 1h30.
Novelty: you can now access all museum information on your smartphone via QR Codes on the panels inside the museum grounds.
Available in 10 languages: French, English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish and Czech.