The Cœur de Nacre destination in Normandy has many assets that appeal to cyclists: a 12km coastline, fine sandy beaches, lush countryside, a rich memorial and historical heritage, not to mention a tempting gastronomy !
Let’s go for the top 5 bike rides from Coeur de Nacre.
Thanks to its network of cycle paths, greenways and shared lanes, Cœur de Nacre is the ideal place to explore Calvados and the wider Normandy region by bike.
Combine sport and sightseeing! Whether you’re on vacation, looking for a weekend break or a sporty outing with family or friends, discover the top 5 walks in and around Cœur de Nacre.
Photo credits : Les Valises de Sarah – Calvados Attractivité
Photo credits: Vincent Rustuel
1 discover the seaside resorts of the Côte de Nacre by bike, along the Vélomaritime route
The Vélomaritime is the French section of Eurovélo n°4.
For its part in Normandy, the cycle route follows the coastline from Le Tréport to Mont-Saint-Michel, so it’s only natural that it should take first place in this top 5 list of bike rides from Cœur de Nacre.
Head for the Côte de Nacre and the D-Day Beaches on the Vélomaritime from Courseulles-sur-Mer.
This cycle route, made up of shared lanes, cycle paths and greenways, offers beautiful seaside panoramas.
From Courseulles-sur-Mer to Ouistreham, count 19km. Easy route, slight gradient.
Things to see and do in the various towns along the way
Courseulles-sur-Mer
- Juno Beach Centre: Canada’s only museum of the D-Day landing beaches.
- Special rates for cyclists and adapted equipment,
- The photo break from the wooden jetty,
- Croix de Lorraine and Juno Park,
- The fish market in the fishing port every morning,
- Observe the flora and fauna along the banks of the Seulles,
- The shopping street with its small souvenir stores.
We love: enjoying oysters and seafood on the terrace with a glass of white wine.
Bernières-sur-Mer
- The Maison des Canadiens – the 1st house liberated by sea on June 6, 1944,
- The remains of the Atlantic Wall,
- The Remem’Bernières memorial trail,
- The walk along the Marais du Platon,
- The attractive historic heritage of the town center, including the church and its remarkable 17th-century stone altarpiece.
We love: strolling along the sea wall to admire the little white beach huts that are emblematic of the Côte de Nacre.
Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer
- Pedestrian walkways leading to the beach,
- Beautiful 19th-century villas,
- Cap Romain and its fishing spot,
- Cultural exhibitions at La Halle,
- The retro-style Casino Joa.
We love: a mussels and French fries lunch on the terrace of one of the seafront restaurants.
Langrune-sur-Mer
- The high breakwater overlooking the beach, dotted with white cabins (in season),
- Fishing on the rocks of Calvados,
- The Bois Joli park, with its playground and picnic tables,
- Shops and gourmet addresses on the Place du 6 juin.
We love: trying out water sports like paddle or wing foil with Voiles de Nacre.
Luc-sur-Mer
- The Hôtel de Ville park, where the 19-metre-long skeleton of a whale is on display,
- The highly Instagrammable fishermen’s jetty,
- Place du Petit Enfer with its shops and restaurants.
- The shopping street,
- Thalasso and its 3 wellness areas,
- Casino Tranchant on the seafront.
Please note: bicycle and water facilities.
We love: the cycle path that continues to Sword Beach, with its panoramic views of the Normandy coastline.
If you continue cycling along the Vélomaritime to Ouistreham, be sure to stop and admire the pretty villas lining the beaches of Lion-sur-Mer and Hermanville-sur-Mer.
2 Immersion in the heart of nature, a stone’s throw from the beach at Luc-sur-Mer
2.5km green route. Easy, gentle route.
Looking for some green? The Vallon de la Capricieuse is a 33-hectare lung of greenery stretching from the Luc-sur-Mer campsite to Douvres-la-Délivrande.
The old railroad line linking Caen to Courseulles-sur-Mer from 1875 to 1950 has been transformed into a greenway.
It follows the “La Capricieuse” stream, which, depending on the season, either has a dry bed or floods the surrounding fields.
As such, it deserves its nickname of capricieuse!
Why take a walk along the Vallon de la Capricieuse?
Along the way, you’ll find numerous fruit trees, climbing frames, picnic tables, an open-air theater, small wooden bridges… in short, a bucolic setting for a successful bike ride!
All around you, a multitude of plants to discover in every season: wild sorrel, chervil, wild garlic, clover…
We love: the bike ride can be extended to Douvres-la-Délivrande. Take the Promenade Thomas de Douvres along the bed of the Douvette stream to La Baronnie, a remarkably well-restored medieval stronghold.
3 Overlooking the D-Day Beaches
Courseulles-sur-Mer to Arromanches, 24km. Difficulty: medium.
Departing from Courseulles-sur-Mer and the Canadian Juno Beach sector, you’re bound to think of the soldiers who landed there in 1944.
The Vélomaritime leaves the seaside resort of Courseulles-sur-Mer on small roads offering 360° views of the sea and oyster beds, passing the moving British Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer on Gold Beach.
Plan a stopover in Asnelles to sample their delicious home-made shortbread.
Don’t miss a visit to the 360 cinema in Arromanches.
The must-sees :
- The Juno Beach Centre, Canada’s only museum of the D-Day landing beaches,
- Juno Park with its remains of the Atlantic Wall and a visit to the bunkers,
- The Fouques farm in Sainte-Croix-sur-Mer and its delicious rhubarb products,
- The handcrafted production of the famous H2o umbrellas in Crépon,
- The Landing Museum at Arromanches and the remains of the artificial harbour.
We love: the sunset over the cream-colored walls of the British Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer and the breathtaking view over the Gold Beach area.
Photo credits: Sabina Lorkin
4 The cycling loop from Caen to the sea
49km, medium difficulty. Recommended for experienced cyclists.
This cycling loop from Caen to the Côte de Nacre combines countryside landscapes with panoramic views of the Normandy coastline.
You’ll pass through pretty little villages like Fontaine-Henry, Basly and Tailleville.
Much of the route is on cycle paths.
Don’t miss it!
- La Vallée des Jardins in Caen: 11 hectares of green, flower-filled space,
- Château de Fontaine-Henry: a little jewel of Renaissance architecture in a green setting,
- Lesage pharmacy in Douvres-la-Délivrande: attractive art nouveau façade,
- The neo-Gothic Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Délivrande,
- Cap Romain: protected site of geological interest at Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, featuring Jurassic-age fossil sponge reefs (sampling prohibited).
We love: stopping off at Langrune-sur-Mer for a picnic or a coffee on the terrace.
5 Vélo Francette
15km from Ouistreham to Caen. Easy route, low gradient.
With the Vélo Francette, we’ve already come to the end of this top 5 list of bike rides in the Coeur de Nacre.
The Vélo Francette is a 600 km cycling itinerary that criss-crosses western France from Normandy to Poitou-Charentes, via the Pays de la Loire region.
From any of the Coeur de Nacre communes, it’s easy to cycle along the seaside cycle path to the starting point of the Vélo Francette: Ouistreham.
Then, starting from Ouistreham, located on the British Sword sector of the D-Day landing beaches, you follow the Orne canal and its former towpath, converted into a 15km greenway, all the way to Caen.
Photo credits: Thomas le Floc
Along the way, to discover :
- The pretty beaches of the Côte de Nacre: Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Luc-sur-Mer, Lion-sur-Mer…
- A visit to the Ouistreham lighthouse in July and August,
- Pegasus Bridge: one of the major D-Day sites,
- The town of Caen: the marina, the Vaugueux district, William the Conqueror’s buildings (castle and abbeys).
Tip: make a detour to the Pointe du Siège, near Ouistreham: a protected natural area on the Orne estuary.
This protected natural area in the Orne estuary is home to 270 species of remarkable flora and fauna.
That was the top 5 bike rides from Cœur de Nacre
Other suggestions of loops and bike rides starting from Coeur de Nacre :
