Updated on 19 October 2020
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Whether you’re looking for a gentle countryside stroll, a self-guided tour or a full-on hike, Normandy is home to an amazingly extensive network of walking and hiking trails through a range of beautiful landscapes. Browse our all of these trails below based on your location, preferred duration and difficulty level.
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Discovery tour of Courseulles-sur-Mer
Ideally located on the D-Day Beaches, Courseulles-sur-Mer was once an important oyster farming site and had no less than 300 oyster beds, only one of which still exists on Île de Plaisance.
During your trip, you will walk through the picturesque alleys of the Vieux Courseulles.
You will also discover many sites and monuments related to the D-Day landings, such as the Lorraine Cross marking the arrival of General de Gaulle on June 14, 1944.
Would you like to discover the city with a guide? Historical visits to Courseulles-sur-Mer are regularly offered by the tourist office.
IGN MAP
OPEN STREET MAP
Starting point
14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer
Waypoints
Go to points of interest1 Start Place de Gaulle
Start near the carrousel, located at Place de Gaulle
2 After Jetée des Pêcheurs
Go down quai des Alliés.
3 Take the bridge on your right, then turn right to go up the outer harbour. If the bridge is closed to traffic, walk around the harbour.
4 At the end of the outer harbour, turn left into Juno Park.
5 Continue straight on, voie des Français Libres.
7 Go up Rue Marine Dunkerque, cross the route de Ver then walk along the promenade the Seulles.
8 Go down the Allée de la Percherie. Cross the Pont de Rigaud on your and enter the Parc du chant des oiseaux.
9 Go up the path, along the wall of the castle (be careful narrow pavements) pass in front of the and turn right into rue Amiral Robert to the church.
Points of interest
Go to waypoints1st Hussars " Bold" Tank
This tank was recovered from the sea in 1970. The Duplex Drive Sherman (DD) is the most famous in a range of special tanks employed by the Allied forces. Its name is due to the dual propulsion system : by track on land and by propeller at the sea, and equipped with flotation system. "Bold" is a memorial to the 1 st Hussars, which also bears the insignias of the Canadian regiments which took part in the D-Day landings and the Battle Normandy.
Commemorative stone of the combattante
Commemorative signs on the theme of the "Combattante": a vessel that took part in the operations on 6th June 1944. On 14th June, it took Général de Gaulle from England to Courseulles-sur-Mer for his first return to France. Road studs are used to follow the path of signs along the avenue.
Jetée des Pêcheurs
Built in the 19th century, it did have a sister jetty alongside it. They were destroyed during the occupation and the current jetty was rebuilt after the war.
Juno Park
Information areas on the history of Courseulles-sur-Mer and its natural environment. At a bend in the path you will see an observation post R666, which is a bunker at the heart of the defence connected with the command post, it was an advanced position capable of providing information about enemy positions and movements. However, it is only accessible as part of visits to Juno Park offered by the Juno Beach Centre. Moreover, you will discover the bunker R612 (called "Cosy"), named in homage to Cosy Atken, a soldier of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Regiment who was responsible for destroying the bunker.
Juno Beach Centre
The Juno Beach Centre is the only Canadian museum on the D-Day landing beaches.
The Centre presents the civil and military war effort in Canada and on the various fronts during the Second World War. This place of remembrance pays tribute to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the war, including 5,500 during the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day. The Juno Beach Centre is also a window on the Canada of today. Explore Juno", a tour for young visitors, for the whole family. Hosted by young Canadian guides, the average visit lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.
Guided tour with a Canadian guide of the beach and the remains of the Atlantic Wall from April to October. Duration: 45 minutes. Visit times on the museum website.
The Juno Beach Centre is committed to remembrance and sustainable development
NEW 80th anniversary :
New temporary exhibition "Rising to the Challenge: The Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War" from 1 February 2023.
Updated "Faces of Canada Today" room
Outdoor exhibition "The Juno Beach Centre and the 17 United Nations SDGs".
Cross of Lorraine
A symbol of the landing of Général de Gaulle on 14th June 1944 at this place. It conveys a powerful symbol of not falling under the supervision of a government of the Allies, which enabled the sovereignty of France to be restored.
Île de Plaisance
It takes its name [pleasure boating island] from the land that is surrounded on three sides by the river Seulles and to the east by the harbour basin. "Plaisance" [pleasure boating] because a visionary called Nicolas Hervieux Duclos from 1831 decided that he would make this area a festive and recreational space based on the Grand Tivoli in Paris. This place was thus the stage of a vast project that gave rise to culinary delights as well as recreation park activities in the 19th century.
Parc à huîtres
In the 18th century the town had 300 parks. Now there is only one.
Meander of the Seulles
The river Seulles is 71 km long and its source can be found in Brimbois forest in the commune of Dialan-sur-Chaîne (previously called Jurques).
Parc du Chant des Oiseaux
A natural environment on the banks of the river Seulles providing a play area for children.
Old mill
This 15th century mill belonged to the Lord of Courseulles who collected the income that it generated. Previously there were two wheels in the mill to grind the wheat. The site of the mill, full of charm, was very popular with painters. In the past, there was a boat wash-house on the Seulles close to the mill.
Saint-Germain church
In 1785, the old church in Courseulles then located near the cemetery was at risk of collapsing. The central path of the cemetery corresponds to the outlines of the early church. It is also possible to see old tombstones of priests. Too dilapidated, it was destroyed by a storm and fire. It was then decided to build a new church in Clos Lucas at the heart of the village. In 1786, the new church was in the hands of carpenters and roofers. In this church you will find a large canvas given by Emperor Napoléon III in 1869 "Saint-Sixte and Saint-Laurent".