The Landing Beaches by bike and the bocage: in the heart of Normandy

Travel through Normandy by bike with this itinerary between the landing beaches and the Norman bocage. Starting from Bayeux, a charming medieval city, cycle towards the Cotentin and the major landing sites. After a stop in Isigny-sur-Mer, an emblematic city of Norman gastronomy, this cycling holidays continues in the bocage. Enjoy the charm of these bucolic, green and hilly landscapes.
Highlights:
- History of the Second World War between beaches, monuments and American cemeteries
- Varied landscapes
- The Norman bocage, bucolic and peaceful
- Bayeux, medieval city
Day 1: Bayeux
Arrival in Bayeux. Stroll through the charming medieval town with its cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, and visit its sumptuous cathedral. If you want to admire the famous Bayeux Tapestry, which retraces the epic tale of William the Conqueror, make a detour to the museum.
Overnight in Bayeux
Day 2: From Bayeux to Isigny-sur-Mer (58 km)
This first stop takes you to a land of gourmet delights. You're probably familiar with Isigny cream or butter, but you can also sample caramels, oysters, and scallops, which are other local specialties. En route, you'll pass the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, and a short detour to Omaha Beach is possible.
Overnight in Isigny-sur-Mer
Day 3: From Isigny-sur-Mer to Sainte-Mère-Église (45 km)
Cycle towards the Cotentin Peninsula. You'll enter the peninsula at Carentan and discover Utah Beach, one of the five landing beaches in Normandy. The route ends in Sainte-Mère-Église, which was the first town liberated in the Cotentin Peninsula by American paratroopers.
Overnight in Sainte-Mère-Église
Day 4: From Sainte-Mère-Église to Saint-Lô (60 km)
The longest stage of this Normandy cycling holiday takes place in the Normandy countryside. Cycle through fields, groves, and small streams, along the peaceful Vire et Taute Canal. Feel the invigorating countryside air where nature flourishes.
Overnight in Saint-Lô
Day 5: From Saint-Lô to Souleuvre-en-Bocage (56 km)
Drive along the Vire River to the Souleuvre Viaduct, passing by the Roches de Ham, the Château de l'Angotière, and Pont-Farcy. The 61-meter-high, 364-meter-long viaduct is a railway bridge dating from 1889 and built by Gustave Eiffel.
Overnight in Souleuvre-en-Bocage
Day 6: From Souleuvre-en-Bocage to Villers-Bocage (35 km)
This shortest stage is certainly the most typical. From one valley to the next, the bucolic hedged countryside unfolds.
Overnight in Villiers-Bocage
Day 7: From Villers-Bocage to Bayeux (40 km)
This is already the last stage. Return to the starting point of your cycling holiday in Normandy by crossing a little-known part of the Bessin region. Pretty farms and majestic churches mark the route. The tour ends after returning to Bayeux.