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Our 4-day coastal cycle tour in Lower Normandy sets off for a discovery of the Côte de Nacre. From Bayeux, we first explore the historic D-Day landing beaches. The coastal cycle path takes us from beach to beach where the souvenirs of World War II and seaside tourism mingle. Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah, they're all on the list. We ride on picturesque roads and gentle paths into the Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin regional nature park and admire sandy beaches, cliffs, peat bogs and Norman villages... The return to Bayeux takes small country roads in the heart of the Normandy bocage for a bucolic discovery of the back country.
Itinerary start: On day 1, we will meet you at 9.30am in front of the English cemetery in Bayeux if you have rented bikes.
As soon as we arrive in Bayeux, we are charmed by the beauty of this medieval city dominated by an imposing cathedral: spared by the 1944 bombings, Bayeux boasts an exceptional architectural heritage where the skills of the craftsmen have been expressed with talent. Bayeux is also our starting point for cycling to the coastline with its D-Day beaches, and then to the Normandy bocage. This first cycle loop takes us to Arromanches Les Bains, a pretty Norman seaside resort, from which we enter directly into the history of the D-Day landings with the discovery of Gold Beach, but also a little further on Juno and Sword Beach, corresponding to three of the five Allied landing beaches. Numerous interpretation panels, relics and monuments line these beaches to tell us more about this historic phase of the liberation in June 1944. After a diversion to Port en Bessin, a charming fishing port in Normandy nestled between two cliffs, we take the return journey along small country roads to Bayeux.
Today we head northwest, our route taking us mostly along the sea. The views are superb, especially from Omaha Beach, another world famous scene of the D-Day landings. Halfway along the route, we reach Colleville Sur Mer and its famous American cemetery, the visit of the site and its museum are absolutely unmissable... We end the day by discovering the Pointe du Hoc, a rocky spit of land overlooking the sea, and home to almost intact German bunkers that we can visit... We arrive in Grandcamp Maisy at the end of the day to stop near the sea.
We continue our journey to the North West, this time further inland, to discover the Normandy countryside. We discover charming towns and villages such as Issigny Sur Mer and its colourful houses or Carentan and its pretty marina. The cycle path winds its way through the marshes and pastures of Normandy until it reaches the coast once again, at Utah Beach, the first beach of the Allied landings. The beach is beautiful, with military cannons and amphibious vehicles still strewn about... At the end of the day we reach the charming village of Sainte Marie Du Mont.
This last stage takes us back to Bayeux, not by the coast, but by small country roads, discovering canals, marshes and typical Normandy hamlets. We discover magnificent pastures guarded by sublime manor houses, in an environment of preserved and peaceful nature. We return to Bayeux with many moving stories to tell, and charmed by the natural heritage of this region straddling La Manche and Calvados. We take advantage of the end of the day to complete our visit of Bayeux and why not, taste one of the menus of the excellent typical restaurants of the old town.
Distance and altitude difference are given for information only.
Itinerary end: Around 5pm on day 4 in Bayeux.
