Normandy discovery

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 : 57 km / 75 km (35.4 or 46.6 miles)

Leaving Bayeux, you will pass by the Battle of Normandy Museum and then the British cemetery, before crossing the Bessin countryside to reach 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 drive west along the beaches of Omaha before returning to Bayeux through the countryside. The longer option takes you to Pointe du Hoc, where the Rangers led the assault on the German artillery positions at the top of the cliff.

Distance to cover : 52 km / 64 km (32,3 or 39,7 miles)

Follow the Aure Valley towards the sea and reach the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer, the only one that still has firing cannons. After your visit, head east along the coast and enter the Gold Beach sector. Between Arromanches and Ver-sur-Mer, you can see the enormous concrete containers still visible on the beach, ruins of the artificial harbour ‘Mulberry’. Continue east to the fishing port of Courseulles sur Mer and Juno Beach, the Canadian sector.

You then leave the coast and follow the Seulles Valley and then the Mue Valley through magnificent countryside to reach Caen. Although completely bombed during the war, this dynamic student city nevertheless has a rich medieval heritage with the castle of William the Conqueror, the Vaugueux district and the many churches and abbeys in the city centre.

Distance to cover : 30 km / 55 km  (18,6 or 34,1 miles)

Leaving Caen, you will follow the Orne Canal to the Bénouville Bridge – Pegasus Bridge – which you will cross. This was one of the strategic points of the landings and was liberated by a commando of British paratroopers very early in the night of 6 June. You will then pass through Ranville, the first French village to be liberated.

Continue eastwards and slowly enter the Pays d’Auge, a veritable picture postcard of Normandy! The undulating road will take you through orchards, pastures, stud farms, cider farms and cheese dairies.

You will finally arrive at Beuvron-en-Auge, a small village ranked among the most beautiful in France, before continuing north to the seaside resort of Cabourg (depending on the option chosen).

Located on the Dives estuary, Cabourg is a popular seaside resort renowned for its 4 km of fine sandy beaches and the Belle Époque atmosphere made famous by Marcel Proust. The villas of the upper middle class and Parisian aristocracy of the early 20th century add to the charm of this small town, which is centred around the Casino and the unmissable Grand Hotel.

Distance to cover : 43 km ( 26.7 miles)

When you leave the coast, you enter the Pays d’Auge, otherwise known as ‘Normandy’s picture postcard’. After passing three hundred horses, two thousand cows and about as many apple trees, you will reach the village of Beaumont en Auge. This is the ideal place to stop for lunch and enjoy the local delicacies: andouillette sausage and cheese, washed down with a glass of good cider!

You will end your trip at the magnificent port of Honfleur. Honfleur is a jewel of art and history. This small fishing port is located south of the Seine estuary. The town welcomed and inspired the pioneers of Impressionist painting: Eugène Boudin, Johan Barthold Jongkind and, above all, Claude Monet!

The town has preserved many monuments from its rich past and offers art lovers numerous galleries to visit. A real gem!

Distance to cover : 52 km ( 32.3 miles)

Leave the coast behind and head towards the Risle Valley, which you will reach at Pont-Audemer, the ideal place for a lunch break in the town centre. Then follow the valley, both wild and welcoming, where the waters of the Risle, the woods of the forest, the earth of the paths and the stone of yesteryear come together. Finally, you will reach Le Bec Hellouin, where your guesthouse is located.
Take the time to stroll through the gardens of the Abbey, which was founded in the 11th century and is still home to a community of Benedictine monks.

Distance to cover : 51 km ( 31.6 miles)

You leave Bec Hellouin via small country roads. You then cross the Neubourg region to reach La Bouille, where you will cross the Seine… on a barge! Finally, you follow the Seine to Rouen via the cycle path.

Your hotel is located in the centre of Rouen, near the cathedral and the Gros Horloge, which are undoubtedly the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The medieval streets of the capital of the former Upper Normandy region are also home to numerous restaurants and shops selling local produce… Perfect for refuelling after a week of cycling!

End of stay in Rouen after breakfast or additional night to enjoy the town.