cycle route d-day landing beaches - mont saint-michel

CYCLE ROUTE
D-DAY LANDING BEACHES
- MONT SAINT-MICHEL
T 2014
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Plages du Débarquement – Mont SaintMichel
A voyage to the very heart of Normandy's history, over
marshes and bocage
Arromanches-les-Bains
Arromanches-les-Bains
Mont Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-MIchel
Arromanches-les-Bains
Press Contacts
> CALVADOS TOURISME
Armelle Le Goff
8 rue Renoir
14054 Caen Cedex 4
Tel.: 0033 2 31 27 90 37
armelle.legoff@calvados.fr
www.calvados-tourisme.co.uk/en
> MANCHE TOURISME
Sophie Bougeard
Maison du Département
98 route de Candol
50008 Saint-Lô Cedex
Tel. : 033 2 33 05 96 08 – 0033 2 33 05 98 89
sophie.bougeard@manche.fr
www.manche-tourism.com/en
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 1
2014
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CYCLE ROUTE
D-DAY LANDING BEACHES
- MONT SAINT-MICHEL
SUMMARY
D-Day Landing Beaches - Mont Saint-Michel,
a new cycle route in Normandy ___________________ page 3
1 - Utah, Omaha or Gold Beach /
Three historic departure points ___________________ page 4/5
2 - A voyage into the heart of history _______________ page 6
3 - A route from marshes to bocage _______________ page 7
4 - Prac3cal informa3on _________________________ page 8
5 - The partners of the cycle route _________________ page 9
Copyright :
ALC Photographies, D. Decamps/CRT Normandie, Patrice Lebris, Greg Wait, F. Massias, Stephan Barrault, Calvados Tourisme, Manche Tourisme.
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 2
D-Day Landing beaches - Mont SaintMichel, a new cycle route in Normandy
A VOYAGE TO THE VERY HEART OF NORMANDY’S HISTORY,
OVER MARSHES AND BOCAGE
A new 140-mile cycle route is available
since early 2013. It links the famous Normandy Landing Beaches and the Mont
Saint-Michel. The "D-Day Landing beaches - Mont Saint-Michel" cycle route is a
genuine invita(on to discover the region's
historic and cultural heritage.
The route is also an opportunity to amble
your way through marshes and bocage to
discover an astonishing natural heritage
as you gradually cycle past Port en Bessin,
Arromanches, Utah Beach, the Coten(n
marshlands, Bayeux, the Souleuvre Viaduct…
banks of the river Vire from where you can admire a landscape of prairies and spectacular gorges; then head back down to the typical bocage
seBng with its hollow paths and criss-cross
hedgerows... to finally reach your breathtaking
des3na3on as you enter the Mont Saint-Michel
bay. The cycle route is accessible for the whole
family and offers alterna3ng green ways (Green
Ways are reserved for non-motorised traffic. They
are developed on former railway tracks or towpaths and narrow country roads.
Depending on your departure point, the route
covers a total distance of 140 or 120 miles.
3 departure points to choose from...
Utah Beach Sainte-Marie du
Mont, in Manche, travelling through
Carentan, Saint-Lô and Pont Farcy
⇒
Port-en-Bessin or Arromanches,
in Calvados, travelling past Bayeux,
Juaye-Mondaye and Villers-Bocage.
⇒
... and a junc3on at the Souleuvre
viaduct
The two cycle routes connect at the
Souleuvre viaduct, a highly popular
site among those in search of thrills
and spills (the bridge is a bungee
jumping base), to con3nue towards
the Mont Saint-Michel via Vire,
Sourdeval, Mortain, Saint-Hilaire-duHarcouët and Ducey.
⇒
On your way along the
route, a fascina3ng encounter with History awaits you that of the Normandy duchies and, more recently, the
D-Day Landings. Set off from
Sainte-Marie du Mont, Port
-en-Bessin or Arromanches,
in the sectors of the landing
beaches codenamed Utah,
Omaha or Gold Beach, today and forever engraved in
the collec3ve memory!
Perched on your two-wheeler, you will discover a
wealth of abbeys and manor farms, along with
the striking Souleuvre viaduct. A sign of the area's
tremendous wealth of heritage: the cycle route
passes two sites that are listed by Unesco: the
Bayeux Tapestry and the Mont Saint-Michel.
A fine natural panorama is also in store for you:
as you leave the high cliffs of the Bessin and Coten3n, you will head for the marshland landscapes do?ed with channels and canals, before
meandering your way along the towpath on the
The "D-Day Landing Beaches - Mont Saint-Michel"
cycle route was created with support from local
authori-es, the Manche and Calvados Councils
and the Lower Normandy Regional Council.
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 3
1 - Utah, Omaha or Gold Beach:
OMAHA OR GOLD BEACH
three1—UTAH,
historic
departure points
THREE HISTORIC DEPARTURE POINTS
The cycle route sets off from the historic
Normandy Landing beaches, offering a
choice of three departure points: SainteMarie du Mont, Port-en-Bessin or Arromanches.
Utah, Omaha or Gold Beach, all beaches lead to the "Mount", via six key stages!
Departure from Sainte-Marie du
Mont
from historic UTAH BEACH
Stage 1: Utah-Beach – Carentan: 22km/14
miles
Departure point - the magnificent shoreline
that was the theatre of the American landings
on Utah Beach. The route then crosses the Coten3n and Bessin Marshes natural park.
Stage 2: Carentan – Saint-Lô: 46km/29 miles
Discover the marina in Carentan, the narrow
roads that cross the Coten3n marshes and the
start of the green way that follows the banks of
the River Vire to Saint-Lô; Along the green way,
you will discover heritage sites associated with
former riverside trades and ac3vi3es.
Stage 3: Saint-Lô - La Ferrière-Harang
(Souleuvre viaduct): 50km/31 miles.
From Saint-Lô to Pont-Farcy, cycle along the
green way that follows the banks of the River
Vire. On your way, you will discover the striking
landscapes of the Roches de Ham rocks. Then
follow the narrow roads that cross the bocage
landscape, offering a medley of wooded paths
and panoramic views over the "Vire Gorges".
You then reach the Souleuvre viaduct, which is
now a renowned bungee jumping site.
Departure from Port-en-Bessin or Arromanches
OMAHA BEACH and GOLD BEACH sector
Stage 1 bis: Arromanches or Port-en-Bessin – Bayeux: 14km/9 miles
From Arromanches, where the ves3ges of the ar3ficial harbour are s3ll visible to this very day, or from
Port-en-Bessin, Lower Normandy's leading fishing
port, set off along the twis3ng rivers to discover an
array of manor farms, apple orchards... then the
medieval city of Bayeux with its splendid cathedral
and famous "Bayeux Tapestry", a?ributed to Queen
Ma3lda.
Stage 2 bis: Bayeux – Villers-Bocage: 38km/24
miles
From Bayeux, head for the narrow roads that lead
to the Juaye-Mondaye abbey, home to Premonstratensian monks and the ideal spot for a short breather. On your way, you can admire many manor
farms. Take a break in Tilly-sur-Seulles to visit the
Bri3sh war cemetery.
Stage 3 bis: Villers-Bocage – La Ferrière-Harang
(Souleuvre viaduct): 27km/17 miles
From Villers-Bocage, the route takes you on the
road to the Craham valley. Then it con3nues on the
tracks of the "Bocage Breakthrough", a military opera3on that went down in history and whose story
is related in a museum in Saint-Mar3n des Besaces.
The landscape that unfolds from here to the
Souleuvre viaduct is a verdant medley of hedgerows, prairies, forests and hillsides. You will then
reach the Souleuvre viaduct.
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 4
1—UTAH, OMAHA OR GOLD BEACH
1 - Utah,
Omaha or Gold Beach:
THREE HISTORIC DEPARTURE POINTS
three historic departure points
The Souleuvre Viaduct junc(on
Stage 4 – Souleuvre viaduct – Mortain: 61km/38
miles
When you leave the viaduct, you will head for La
Graverie (via extremely calm roads) on the start
of a green way that leads to Vire, home to the
famous "andouille" chi?erling sausage. The green
way con3nues a few miles to the west of Vire.
Admire the dells up to Sourdeval, then Mortain
with its typical bocage hedgerows and waterfalls...
Stage 5 – Mortain – Ducey: 30km/19 miles
Depar3ng from Romagny, follow the green way
that crosses the Pays de la Baie du Mont SaintMichel, meandering along the banks of the River
Sélune. Discover the truly natural landscapes of
the Sée and the Sélune rivers... and the floral village of Ducey.
Stage 6 – Ducey – Mont Saint-Michel: 31km/19
miles
You will then follow small and quiet minor roads
that offer unique views over the Mont SaintMichel and its bay, listed Unesco World Heritage
Sites since 1979. These diverse landscapes
(foreshore, grazing land...) offer you a journey
through very different worlds.
(These stages are provided for informa-on only. Each cyclist
can decide on the right route at the right pace.)
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 5
2 - A voyage into the heart of history
Following the region's history in reverse
order, the route begins with a plunge into
the most recent period around D-Day, to
end in the Middle Ages at the Mont SaintMichel. The magic of Normandy's everchanging landscapes! Star(ng on the historic shores of D-Day, the cycle route
passes through a medley of alterna(ng
marshlands and bocage landscapes. And
it ends in a blaze of glory with the Mont
Saint-Michel bay.
Utah Beach
Utah Beach, along with Omaha Beach, is among
the beaches that formed the American sector
during the D-Day Landings. The Utah Beach museum, located nearby, opposite the ves3ges of this
historic event, tells the story of a
military feat involving over
800,000 troops, via a rich collec3on of objects and memorabilia.
Port-en-Bessin
Located on the eastern extremity
of Omaha Beach, this tradi3onal
and picturesque harbour town is
Normandy's leading port in its
category. All year round, the
docks are enlivened by the various fishing seasons and a calendar of fes3ve events.
Arromanches-les-Bains
The ves3ges of Arromanches' "Mulberry" ar3ficial
harbour can s3ll be seen to this very day. This
genuine technological feat was has3ly put together immediately aUer the Normandy Landings to
enable supplies to be brought in for the Allied armies.
Bayeux
The first French town to be liberated has preserved the principle ves3ges of its evenVul history: the Bayeux Tapestry, a remarkable 11th century linen embroidery.
Juaye Mondaye and its famous abbey founded
in 1202. The abbey's most prosperous period was
during the early 13th century, with the reconstruc3on of the monastery (abbey-church, farm
and monas3c building). This reconstruc3on was
the work of Father Eustache Restout, who was
not only a Premonstratensian monk from Mondaye, but also an architect and painter from the
illustrious Norman family that undertook to rebuild the site. Work was completed in 1745.
Unique in Normandy, this Classical period construc3on can s3ll be admired
today.
Magical
Michel
Mont
Saint-
It's always with the same emo3on that visitors discover the
Mont Saint-Michel, a rocky islet surmounted with an abbey
- a masterpiece of Gothic Art,
listed a Unesco World Heritage
Site since 1979. Subjected to
the highest 3des in Europe,
the Mont Saint-Michel bay's
landscape is literally transformed several 3mes every
day, from an immense mari3me expanse to a
foreshore rippled with channels. This fascina3ng
phenomenon brings a touch of magic to what is
already a truly magnificent site.
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 6
3 - A route from marshes to bocage
The magic of Normandy's ever-changing
landscapes! Star(ng on the historic
shores of D-Day, the cycle route passes
through a medley of alterna(ng marshlands and bocage landscapes. And it ends
in a blaze of glory with the Mont SaintMichel bay.
The Coten(n marshes
Imagine a tour amidst 27,000 hectares of marshes
and polders in a tradi3onal bocage landscape.
Pastures and reaped prairies, criss-crossed with
ditches and sca?ered with peat bogs, such is the
seBng over this vast wetland.
The Vire valley
A towpath follows the meanders
of the River Vire prac3cally all its
length from the towns of Vire to
Saint-Lô, offering an easy route
for you to take full advantage of
the landscapes where hills, dells
and spectacular gorges intermingle. Located in Torigni-sur-Vire,
the Château de Ma3gnon is
home to a fabulous collec3on of
Aubusson tapestries.
The Souleuvre viaduct
The perfect spot for those in search of thrills and
spills: the Souleuvre is a highly popular bungee
jumping site! Created by Gustave Eiffel, this disused rail viaduct is over 1,150 feet long and 200
feet high.
The Mortain waterfalls
The town of Mortain stands on the hillside, in the
verdant heart of the Normandy bocage. The enchan3ng waterfalls on the River Cance are a fine
illustra3on of this environment of escarped relief,
offering Armorican Normandy its wildest personality.
The history of the Mortain railway - A sec-on of the old railway line that linked Vire with
the Mont Saint-Michel, now
transformed into a green way,
crosses through the deep valleys and abrupt hillsides that
characterise the landscapes
around Mortain. The railway
line's construc-on was a genuine challenge for the 19th century labourers who had to blow
up several hills with dynamite.
Today, the route is open to all
cyclists.
The Roches de Ham
Located slightly south of Saint-Lô, these rocks
form a breathtaking wall that plunges down over
330 feet towards the River Vire. Its densely wooded banks, caves, prairies and streams are home to
a great abundance and variety of fauna and flora.
The ideal spot to take a break and revel in this
idyllic seBng!
The Bocage and the Normandy dells
To the south of the marshes, a quite unique landscape unfolds: verdant prairies, some of them
do?ed with apple and pear trees, rub shoulders
with woods and copses. The en3re landscape is
criss-crossed by high hedgerows. The area is renowned, and quite rightly so, for its dairy products, in par3cular its cream, bu?er and cheeses ;
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 7
4 - Prac3cal informa3on
Before you set off, download some useful informa(on (cycle route map - prac(cal informa(on: contact informa(on for cycle hire and repair - train (metables) on the website:
www.dday-montsaintmichel-bybike.com
ACCUEIL VELO - A na(onal brand name
The D-Day Landing Beaches - Mont Saint-Michel cycle route relies on an en3re network of service providers, all awarded with the na3onal brand name 'Accueil Vélo':
they are all located less than 3 miles from the route: accommoda3on, tourist offices,
cycle hire, places to visit and leisure ac3vi3es…
However fit you are
⇒
⇒
A hardened cycle tourist can cover 12 to 25 miles a day
A family cycle generally achieves a daily distance of 3 to 12 miles.
Normandy's network
This cycle route is part of the Normandie à Vélo network which will ul3mately include three other cycle
routes.
About the cycle route
⇒
⇒
⇒
Opened late 2012
140 or 120 miles depending on your departure point
The route crosses 2 Lower Normandy départements: Calvados and Manche.
An encounter on the Cycle Route
François Briane, cycle hire in Bayeux: let this expert guide you!
Cycling has always been a passion for this "green" transport enthusiast and
creator of cycle routes. A passion to which he has devoted a great deal of
his 3me since he created his own cycle hire business, Locvélo, in 2012. Located near the Bayeux railway sta3on, his workshop abounds with a range
of sparkling cycles. Quality and service are his key priori3es. He has even
developed a network of relay sta3ons along the cycle route to enable
spare parts to be delivered. One of his favourites? His "spiritual" cycle sta3on at the Juaye Mondaye abbey. His offer ranges from children's cycles
(from age 6) to electric bikes... S3ll not sure which one to choose? No
problem, François takes the 3me to advise you, to roll out his maps and to
make sure your cycle tour is a pleasant one. LocVélo, Bayeux,
www.locvelo.f
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 8
5 - The partners of the cycle route
6— PARTNERS OF THE CYCLE ROUTE
D-Day Landing Beaches - Mont Saint-Michel
Partners of the Cycle Route “Plages du débarquement Mont Saint-Michel”
Technical partners and associates
Normandy Regional Tourist Baard
Coten3n and Bessin Regional Nature Park
Ligue Basse-Normandie de Cyclotourisme
Calvados Tourisme
Manche Tourisme
Pays Touris3que de Saint-Lô
Pays de la Baie du Mont Saint-Michel
And the touris offices of :
Arromanches-les-Bains
Avranches
Bayeux Intercom tourist Office and the Commission
Pôle touris-que du Bessin
Carentan
Ducey
Mortain
Mont Saint-Michel
Pontorson
Port-en-Bessin
Sainte-Mère-Eglise
Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët
Saint-Lô
Sourdeval
Villers-Bocage
Vire
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 9
Press Kit , Cycle Route D-Day Mont Saint-Michel , 2014 - page 10