Scenic Road 1944® - Best of D-Day on bike
scenic-road-1944-d-day-bike
Mode of transportation
By bike, Bus
Duration of the trip
One day
Difficulty
Easy
Enjoy our all-inclusive offer on the Scenic Route 1944. A one-way tour including bike rental and return shuttle. Embark on a worry-free journey for an unforgettable day!
Discover unique landscapes, iconic historical sites along the Gold and Omaha beaches on the Vélo-maritime. From the artificial port of Arromanches to the fishing port of Grandcamp-Maisy, your route will take you, among others, through the German battery of Longue sur Mer, the small port of Port en Bessin, the American Cemetery, and Pointe du Hoc.
Book this unique experience now, blending adventure, history, and nature, for a serene day.
• Shuttle available from 3 persons
• Minimum reservation 48 hours in advance
Nos conseillers s'occupent de tout, laissez-vous guider et réservez une expérience sur-mesure !
Learn more about this price
Starting from
85€
/person.Complete program
10 steps
Departure
Departure of the ride from the Locvélo agency
You will start your day at the bike rental agency where you will receive a presentation: of your bikes for the day, of our GPS guidance application, and of the must-see places to have an unforgettable experience.
4 min
By bike
650 m
Step 1
Sites and historical monuments
Mulburry
During the preparation for the Normandy landings (Operation Overlord), Allied commanders recognized the critical need for deep-water ports to send reinforcements to the continent. However, the German defense of these ports had been significantly strengthened, as evidenced by the Canadian forces' attack on Dieppe on August 19, 1942. It was clear that capturing these ports would require heavy casualties and risked destroying port infrastructure.
The Allies' solution was to assemble components for two artificial ports in the UK and transport them across the Channel for assembly on-site. The first was to facilitate the arrival of American troops at Omaha Beach (Vierville-sur-Mer) and was codenamed "Mulberry A." The second was intended for British troops at Gold Beach (Arromanches) and was codenamed "Mulberry B."
The British 50th Infantry Division, which landed on June 6, captured the town of Arromanches the same evening. The next day, old ships were scuttled to begin constructing the artificial harbor. By June 14, the first floating roadway was operational. However, a storm hit the English Channel between June 19 and 22, causing significant damage to the artificial ports.
Mulberry A was rendered completely unusable, while Mulberry B sustained less damage and could be repaired using salvaged elements from Mulberry A. In total, 529,000 tons of equipment were unloaded at Arromanches until its closure on November 19, 1944. While a remarkable technical feat, this effort was ultimately deemed costly and unnecessary. The Allies managed to land more troops, vehicles, and equipment through smaller ports in Normandy, and even more directly on the beaches.
Sites and historical monuments
34 min
By bike
6.6 km
Step 2
Sites and historical monuments
German Battery of Longues-sur-Mer
A major structure of the Atlantic Wall, the Longues-sur-Mer coastal defense battery includes a fire command post and four casemates each housing a 150mm artillery piece. Located in the heart of the Allied assault sector, at the top of a cliff overlooking the English Channel, it played a strategic role during the Landing of the Allied forces on June 6, 1944. Guided tours of the site are offered by the tourist office of Bayeux Intercom. Program available in the “Heritage: circuits and visits” brochure or dedicated sections of the tourist office website.
Sites and historical monuments
42 min
By bike
10 km
Step 3
Sites and historical monuments
The 47 Royal Marine Commando Memorial
The Memorial of the 47th Royal Marine Commando is strategically located at the edge of the golf course in Port-en-Bessin, offering a stunning view over the harbor. This memorial stands as a testament to the heroism of this half-company in liberating the town during World War II. The memorial is notably built above the surveillance bunker at Point WN57 of the Atlantic Wall. This site was part of the German fortifications that lined the coast of Nazi-occupied France.The 47th Commando, after landing on Gold Beach on June 6, 1944, undertook a grueling march and intense combat to capture Port-en-Bessin. This small fishing village was crucial for the Allies as a link between the American and British sectors and as a point for oil pipelines under the English Channel, essential for the success of the operations in Normandy.The memorial not only honors the bravery and sacrifice of these Royal Marines but also serves as an educational site, explaining the strategic importance of their mission and providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the battle's context. It's a place for reflection, remembrance, and education, bridging past and present by preserving the legacy of these courageous soldiers.
Sites and historical monuments
36 min
By bike
7.5 km
Step 4
Love at first sight
Vue panoramique d'Omaha Beach
Viewpoint overlooking Omaha Beach, scene of the Second World War.
If you see this view at low tide, you can imagine June 6, 1944 at 6:30 a.m., during the landing.
The aerial bombardments earlier in the night proved very ineffective and the German defenses, practically intact, took the beach in an enfilade and sowed death on Omaha beach.
To make matters worse, the amphibious tanks almost all sank before reaching the coast, thus depriving the infantrymen of essential artillery support. As the hours pass, the situation continues to get worse. The barges bringing the reinforcements impaled themselves or jumped on the obstacles that the engineering men, decimated by the losses, did not manage to clear in time.
After an ordeal of several hours for the American soldiers, the situation finally evolved in their favor. The Gi's, by dint of energy and courage, managed at the end of the morning to climb the escarpment and infiltrate in small groups on the plateau to take in the rear an enemy whose resistance was beginning to seriously weaken.
On the evening of D-Day, the Omaha bridgehead was barely more than 2 kilometers deep.
But the operation, which got off to a very poor start, nevertheless ended in success, but at what cost! Losses amounted to more than 3,000 men, fifteen times more than on Utah Beach.
In 2011, American scientists and geologists from the journal Sedimentary Record analyzed the content of the sand on Omaha beach: 4% of its composition is made of shell residue and metal military equipment, following the landing and erosion for almost 70 years.
13 min
By bike
3.1 km
Step 5
Sites and historical monuments
American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer
The American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer is an American military cemetery located just above one of the landing beaches named Omaha Beach by the Allies, in the French commune of Colleville-sur-Mer (Calvados) on one sites of the Allied landings of June 6, 1944.
Some numbers :
- 70 hectares
- More than a km long
- 9387 graves, including 307 unknown and four women
The American Military Cemetery of Colleville is the only annexed territory in France, in homage to our American liberators. This means that the United States has obtained the concession of this land in France in perpetuity. Thus, cemetery employees and gardeners are paid by the United States government, in dollars.
This principle of public international law amounts to a country allowing the authority of a foreign State to be exercised over part of its territory.
Located opposite Omaha Beach, this cemetery is the final resting place of thousands of American soldiers who sacrificed their lives defending freedom.
With its impeccable rows of perfectly aligned white crosses, it is much more than just a burial site. It is a poignant symbol of sacrifice, courage and solidarity between nations.
Sites and historical monuments
30 min
By bike
7.1 km
Step 6
Sites and historical monuments
Omaha Beach
The Les Braves Memorial stands in the center of Normandy's Omaha Beach, France. This monumental ensemble is made up of three sculptures: “The wings of hope”, “Freedom up!” » and “The Wings of Fraternity”. A description of the monument is posted on the boulevard along the beach.
Sites and historical monuments
1 h 03 min
By bike
11 km
Step 7
Sites and historical monuments
Pointe du Hoc
The Pointe du Hoc marks the natural border between the high cliffs of Bessin to the east and the shores of the Bay of Veys to the west. But this cape is not known for that. It is for one of the hardest battles of the Landings that this site entered the history of the 20th century.
At the same time as the landing on Omaha beach, a little further west, a battalion was tasked with climbing the 30 meter cliff of Pointe du Hoc, to storm the German battery and destroy its cannons.
This formidable mission was entrusted to the 2nd Ranger Battalion commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel James Rudder.
Transported to the site by barge, the men of companies D, E and F achieved the incredible feat of reaching the summit in just a few minutes, despite the very slippery wall, the ropes weighed down by sea water and the fire of the defenders.
In a lunar landscape, riddled with craters, a fierce battle began, which ultimately proved more deadly than the ascent itself.
A major surprise awaited the Rangers. They discovered that large wooden planks had been installed in the tanks in place of the cannons. These, as a security measure, had been removed from their locations in April and transported inland where they were found by an American patrol and put out of harm's way by sabotaging their breeches with explosives.
Terrible hours then began for Rudder's men. Surrounded on Pointe du Hoc, deprived of reinforcements and subjected to strong German counterattacks coming from all sides, they were only delivered on June 8, around noon, by troops advancing from Omaha. Of the 225 Rangers engaged in this crazy adventure, only 90 soldiers were still fit to fight.
And nearly 80 of their comrades lost their lives there.
This little one from the end of the world who left his mark on History is today monitored and scrutinized very closely by a panel of international scientists.
Indeed, with climate change, the emblematic Pointe du Hoc is unfortunately destined to disappear in the short term.
Sites and historical monuments
31 min
By bike
5.5 km
Step 8
End of the bike ride at the port of Grandcamps-Maisy
The opportunity to have a coffee or a chocolate while waiting for the shuttle to return to Arromanches-les-bains which will arrive at 6 p.m.
35 min
Bus
45 km
Arrival
The end
Your return by van will mark the end of your tour. After dropping off your bikes, we advise you to enjoy the narrow streets of Arromanches and have a coffee by the sea.
Map
Map
Practical information
This one-day tour includes the rental of an electric-assist bicycle and return transport via van at 6 p.m.
• Departure available from 3 bookings
• Minimum reservation 48 hours in advance
Particular difficulties
Sur le parcours vous rencontrerez deux difficultés : une première à la sortie d'Arromanches-les-Bains et une seconde à la sortie de Port-en-Bessin. Ces deux difficultés se passent sans problèmes en prenant bien le temps de passer les vitesses à gauche et de mettre le vélo en mode "sport" ou "Turbo".
Price
Starting from
85€
/person.Budget estimé selon saison, types d'hébergements et activités. L'évolution des coûts du transport (aérien ou maritime), les choix du niveau de prestations et des périodes de voyage, le délai de réservation influent sur le prix de votre voyage.
Pour un tarif exact selon vos critères, nous pouvons vous établir un devis personnalisé.
This price includes
- The rental of an electric-assist bicycle
- The return journey by van to return to the starting point (Arromanches-les-Bains)
- The GPS track of the route and audio guidance on various points of interest
- A digital roadbook of your circuit