Normandy bike tour : from Bayeux to Mont-Saint-Michel

Discover this charming medieval city dominated by its magnificent gothic cathedral. Stroll through the narrow medieval streets and admire the half-timbered houses. Don't miss the visit of the 11th century tapestry representing the conquest of England by William the Conqueror.

Your bike tour takes you from Bayeux to the Overlord Museum and the American Cemetery along small country roads through villages with half-timbered houses and pastures with grazing cattle. The visit of the cemetery is really striking. You continue along the coast to the pretty little fishing port of Port-en-Bessin. Take a stroll around the port before heading back to Bayeux.

Start your day cycling on a shared road to the heights of Port-en-Bessin. Continue on to the Vélomaritime, a cycling route along the coast. You’ll pass Omaha Beach in particular. If you want to get to the D-Day memorial, we recommend you follow Colville. Follow the Norman cliffs on a pleasant cycle path. After a few climbs, you’ll reach the Pointe du Hoc site. Take in the beautiful views before reaching the oyster-farming town of Grandcamp-Maisy.

Leave the port town of Grandcamp-Maisy and say goodbye to the seal colony in the Baie des Veys. Gradually move away from the costaline towards the marshes and hedged farmland that are so familiar to Normandy. Follow little-traveled roads through farmland to reach Carentan. As you approach the town, you’ll be plunged back into a maritime atmosphere, recognizing the seascapes you left that very morning, as Carentan boasts a marina.

You leave Carentan along the Taute river. On this flat route, you continue on small roads through the marshes. You may come across the famous Norman cows, known for their black and white spots. When you reach the commune of Saint-Fromont, you ride alongside the River Vire. Pedal peacefully along the Vire, on a landscaped greenway, to the fortifications of the town of Saint-Lô. Don’t miss a visit to the beautiful church of Notre-Dame-de-Saint-Lô.

From Saint-Lô, you cycle along the River Vire for much of the route. You pedal along the peaceful "voie verte", decorated with works of art all along the way. Then, little by little, the scenery changes, the paths become a little winding and you enter the bocages. Along the way, you'll have a chance to admire the Souleuvre Viaduct, and why not take a break there to encourage the more daring who decide to jump into the void. You'll take in some of Normandy's rolling countryside before reaching Vire, famous for its gastronomic specialities and architecture steeped in history.

You leave the heights of Vire and head back down towards the greenway. Following an old railroad line, you'll come across a number of abandoned stations, some of which have been rehabilitated for cyclists, and some of which have been chosen as refuge for a few biquettes. For vegetation lovers, you'll be surrounded by a variety of trees, including oaks, chestnuts and beeches, to protect you from the heat on sunny summer days. A little further along the route, don't forget to stop off at Morton to admire the unspoilt natural setting of the Morton waterfalls. The voie verte takes you to the small town of Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, founded in 1083.

Start your day with a lovely descent from the town of Saint-Hilaire to join the voie verte. You’ll find the same landscapes as the day before: hedged farmland and trees protecting you all along the way. This is a relatively pleasant stage, as it is mainly downhill. As you progress, the landscape opens up and the marshes appear, giving a glimpse of Mont-Saint-Michel in the distance. On the second part of the stage, you take little-travelled roads until you reach the tourist site. Finally, you reach Pontorson via a greenway that is once again quiet and flat.

Take time to stroll around the market in Pontorson or eat a last crêpe, unless you want to extend your stay in Normandy.