D-Day express

Bayeux was one of the first French towns to be liberated by the Allies on 7 June 1944. Having escaped bombing, it is one of the few towns in the area to have preserved its medieval monuments.
So take some time to visit:
The Tapestry recounting the epic story of William the Conqueror in England in 1066
The cathedral built in honour of William
The old buildings in the historic centre
(The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is currently closed for renovation for two years. It is scheduled to reopen in October 2027).
For foodies, the town is full of excellent restaurants!

Distance to cover: 28 km, 46 km or 62 km (17,40 miles / 28,60 miles or 38,50 miles)

On this first day of cycling, you will complete a loop north-east of Bayeux for an initial visit to the D-Day beaches.
You will reach the coast at Longues-sur-Mer, where you can visit the German battery bunkers. A major part of the Atlantic Wall, the Longues-sur-Mer coastal defence battery includes a firing command post and four casemates, each housing a 150mm artillery piece. You will then cycle east along Gold Beach to Arromanches, where you can still see the remains of the artificial harbour ‘Mulberry B’. The long option takes you to the Canadian sector of Juno Beach in Courseulles-sur-Mer. This is also the beach where Charles de Gaulle landed on 14 June 1944!
You return leisurely to Bayeux along small roads, discovering Bessin along the way.

Distance to cover: 64 km or 74 km (39,80 miles or 46 miles)

After leaving Bayeux, you will cross the Bessin countryside to reach the coast at Colleville-sur-Mer. Since 1956, this village at the eastern end of Omaha Beach has been home to the remains of 9,387 soldiers buried in the American Cemetery. After your visit, you will follow the beaches of Omaha to the west and continue to Pointe du Hoc, where the Rangers stormed the German artillery positions at the top of the cliff.
You then leave the coast for the famous Normandy Bocage, the scene of painful fighting between American GIs and German soldiers. After a visit to the German cemetery at La Cambe, you cross the Cotentin Marshes Natural Park before reaching Carentan. Your accommodation is ideally located in the town centre.

Distance to cover: 52 km / 70 km (32 miles / 43,5 miles)

You enter the Cotentin Regional Park and take quiet roads to reach Utah Beach and Sainte Mère Église. Don’t miss the highly informative Airborne Museum. Spread across five buildings, the museum guides you in the footsteps of the American paratroopers on D-Day.
If the weather permits, don’t forget your swimsuit so you can enjoy the beautiful beaches this region has to offer.
The longer option takes you to the village of Quinéville, following the D-Day beaches.

End of the tour in Carentan after breakfast.
Option to organise an extra day of cycling to return to Bayeux.