The D-Day Loops - Normandy Weekend

Your journey will begin at our agency over a coffee. We will provide you with your roadbook containing all the necessary elements for the smooth running of your stay. After gathering your belongings for the day and leaving your vehicle in our secure parking lot, it will be time to embark on your first day on the bike.DAY 1 - BAYEUX / GOLD BEACH / BAYEUX (27km)Along the way, you'll be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the Normandy coast, with its steep cliffs, sandy dunes, and quaint villages. You'll also have opportunities to make stops and explore the numerous historical sites in the region. One of the major points of interest is the Arromanches D-Day Museum, which traces the history of D-Day and the subsequent military operations. You'll also have the chance to discover the remnants of the artificial port of Arromanches, which was built by the Allies to facilitate the landing of troops and equipment. Continuing along the coast, you'll encounter the Gold Beaches, including La Brèche Beach and Asnelles Beach. These beaches were the scene of fierce fighting, and numerous commemorative monuments have been erected in memory of the fallen soldiers.Upon returning to Bayeux, you can relax and enjoy your hotel before exploring the medieval town and its many historical monuments. Then, indulge in the local gastronomy before retiring for the night.

Located between Caen and Courseulles: 224 graves.

Fine example of Norman Medieval architecture consecrated on 14th July 1077 in presence of William the Conqueror. Extension and embellishment work between the 13th and 15th centuries.

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.

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.

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.

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.