Today I’m gravel riding the D-Day coastline of Normandy France – through fields, bunkers, and beaches that changed the course of history in June 1944. This route isn’t just about beautiful views – it’s about remembering. And there’s one final stop on this ride that just might stop you in your tracks…
▶ Ride Highlights Include:
Ranville War Cemetery – The first village liberated on D-Day, with graves of young soldiers who paid the ultimate price.
Pegasus Bridge & Museum – Where British gliders landed in the early hours of June 6th to capture a key crossing.
The Grand Bunker (Ouistreham) – A towering relic of the German Atlantic Wall, now packed with WWII artifacts.
British Normandy Memorial (Ver-sur-Mer) – Overlooking Gold Beach, with 22,000 names etched into its stone and the powerful Standing with Giants exhibition.
Juno & Sword Beaches, Churchill Tank, German bunkers, and more.
This ride weaves through key locations of the Allied landings, revealing scars of war hidden in plain sight — from bullet-marked churches to inland-facing anti-tank guns. It’s a powerful journey on two wheels that every cyclist should experience.
📍 Route: Ranville → Pegasus Bridge → Ouistreham → Sword Beach → Lion-sur-Mer → Juno Beach → Ver-sur-Mer
🚵♂️ Terrain: Mixed road & gravel
⏱️ Duration: Day ride
📷 Filmed: Just before the D-Day commemorations in June
I used the following equipment to record this video
INSTA360 – https://amzn.to/3OocaVg
INSTA ACE PRO 2 – https://amzn.to/4qMBP7I
LARGE TRIPOD – https://amzn.to/4aCpcGd
HOLLYLAND LARK A1 BLUETOOTH MICROPHONE – https://amzn.to/3ZJ3oUf
iGPSPORT BIKE COMPUTER – https://amzn.to/4r1Mg7D
🇫🇷 I’ve been cycling and running tours in Normandy since 2008. If you’re planning a trip or looking for route advice, feel free to reach out.
Leave a comment below, let me know your thoughts, or share your own experience of visiting the D-Day sites by bike.
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Thanks for watching!
#DDay #NormandyByBike #CyclingFrance #GravelRide #WWIIHistory #MoreThan21Bends
#cyclingfrance
#normandyinvasion
#PegasusBridge
#cyclinginnormandy
8 Comments
Thanks for watching! This ride through 10 fascinating D-Day sites was more than just a bike trip — it was a journey into the hidden layers of history.
Have you visited any D-Day sites in Normandy? Which one made the biggest impact on you? Let me know below
And if you enjoyed “History Revealed,” hit that 👍 and share the ride with someone who loves history on two wheels.
#DDayCycling #HistoryRevealed #NormandyBikeRide
Can you share the strava route ?
Technically speaking, the Sexton is not a tank. It’s a Canadian made self propelled gun (a.k.a. Mobile Artillery), carrying a British 25 Pounder artillery gun. It is not designed to shoot at other tanks or directly at targets. It is artillery designed to drop artillery shells many kms away, indirect fire.
HI,
We are planning a trip from Cherbourg to Caen visiting the war beached/museums by bike. We have booked hotels and planned it for 5 nights. I'm wondering how are the hills on this route, do you know?
We have gravel bikes, with paniers.
My great uncle is buried at Ranville. We’ve visited a few times and next year I’m hopefully visiting again but by bike this time.
This is a great video, good inspiration for other people's trips. I'll have to start looking at planning a route!
I did a DDay coach trip last year, loved it and the area, I must return again on my own . Thanks for your video.
I visited the British cemetery in Bayeux. There’s inscriptions from the families of the fallen. Reading them is absolutely heart breaking. Next spring I’ll be riding this route then on to Utah, St. Mère-Église before heading to Brittany.