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Paris (Hotel or home address) - Caen-Pegasus Bridge
There are plenty of sites to visit in sorroundings of Caen which was a strategic place during WW2 , such as the Memorial museum or the Pegasus Bridge. You can enjoy sightseeing with your guide driver if you book in advance your ride
Pegasus Brigde: the first free bridge in France
On June 5, 1944, the main mission of the Sixth British Airborne Division is to take two intact bridges. This is the bridge located on the Caen Canal in Bénouville and that of Ranville on the Orne. This action is necessary so that allied reinforcements coming from the beaches can cross it. On June 6, around 1 am, 180 men stationed near the bridges with several gliders and stormed them. On June 26, 1944, the Benouville bridge on the Caen Canal was renamed Pegasus Bridge. A new name was chosen to honor the hundreds of Britons who took it. The latter carried on their sleeve the badge of Pegasus who is the winged horse of Greek mythology. This emblem was chosen by Daphné du Meurier, a British novelist, wife of General Frederick Browning. This General was at the head of British airborne troops during the Second World War. This is where the name of this strategic bridge from Ranville comes from. It should be noted that before June 6, Major John Howard, who was the commander of a unit arrived by glider during the Second World War, has already trained his men on a real scale English ground with white bands to represent the Orne and the canal and several bridges as well.
Pegasus Bridge after World War II
From 1961, this bridge, which was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1871, became more and more famous thanks to a film by Darryl Zanuck entitled "The Longest Day". Unfortunately, in 1994, this iconic bridge was replaced by a new bridge. From there, Pegasus Bridge becomes a historical monument. He is even exposed in the Pegasus Memorial Park. The entire Pegasus Bridge site, including the bridge and its surroundings, was inscribed in 1972 straddling the towns of Bénouville and Ranville. It is even classified as a natural site since 2010. Do not hesitate to contact us if you want to rent one of our cars to discover this mythical monument, we also provide you with professionally trained drivers.
Description of the establishment
The Hotel - Restaurant Riva Bella 4 * by Thalazur is located in Ouistreham, a small town near Caen. For those who want to stay there, the hotel is accessible by different routes. It is accessible by road; It is 254 kilometers from Paris, 2 hours drive. It is also accessible by rail. From Paris, just take the line: Paris-Cherbourg. By air, the nearest airport is Caen-Carpiquet, located 16 kilometers from Ouistreham.
Rooms and other services of the hotel
The Hotel - Restaurant Riva Bella 4 * by Thalazur offers very comfortable four-star accommodation with 89 non-smoking rooms. Rooms at Hotel Riva Bella are composed of a living room, a minibar, a terrace and a private bathroom with a bathtub and a shower. All rooms are equipped with LCD satellite TV, climate control, telephone, cribs, coffee and tea making facilities and an ironing service. The rooms also have specific amenities such as wheelchairs for people with reduced mobility. Note that some rooms face the sea directly. In terms of amenities, guests have access to a full-service spa, two saltwater pools. It is also possible to enjoy the well-equipped fitness center, sauna, steam room and hot tub. In addition to the thalassotherapy center, there is the bar-restaurant, unlimited free Wi-Fi and secure parking for all guests.
The extras offered by this hotel
Room service for breakfast. There is also the restaurant which is open 24 hours a day, it offers a variety of modern, traditional or seasonal cuisine, you can choose according to your preferences. The à la carte menus are available in French or English and the client can enjoy a dining room overlooking the sea and the beach, a terrace with a splendid view and an outdoor dining area. Apart from this, the hotel also offers several leisure options such as horse riding, windsurfing, canoeing and guided hiking. We also offer a car service always on time.
Description of the establishment
Hotel Libéra Caen Colombelles is a 3-star hotel located just 6 km from Caen city center in Colombelles. Spend a stay at this property is perfect for those who come with family, friends or business trip. Indeed, it is about 10 minutes drive from the landing beaches and 15 minutes from the Ouistreham ferry terminal. For your information, the hotel is only 20 minutes from Cambourg.
Rooms and other services of the hotel
Guests are able to choose between two types of non-smoking rooms including the comfort room with kitchenette or the standard room with balcony or terrace. All rooms are modern and comfortable while being well equipped: satellite TV, Wifi access, private shower, etc. As for the restoration of the hotel Libéra Caen Colombelles, dishes based on local products are carefully served by a cordon bleu. From pork tenderloin to Gorgonzola cream and Escabèche fish, the menu will surprise fans of good French dishes!
The extras offered by this hotel
The centers of interest and leisure near the hotel Libéra Caen Colombelles are numerous. The hotel is less than 6 km from Caen Golf Course. Setting off to discover the famous Ouistreham Ferry Port is also a good idea during a stay at the hotel as it is just 18 km from the property. Culture and discovery buffs can also visit the museum dedicated to the history of the twentieth century turned to peace and the Second World War, the Memorial of Caen. The iconic castle of the time of William the Conqueror, Castle Caen, is also not far from the hotel. There are also many tourists who take advantage of their stay at the hotel to discover Pegasus Bridge, the bridge made famous by the movie "The longest day". In addition, there are many important companies in the vicinity of Hotel Libéra Caen Colombelles, including Legallais Bouchard, Laboratoire Gilbert, Eiffage and the Malherbe Stadium in Caen. For you to enjoy, we offer a transport from Paris airport.
Located in the old city center of Caen, the castle is a fortified complex. It is located in the plain of Caen, on the southern edge of a "low rise" plateau overlooking the lower valley of the Orne. Its quadrangular enclosure is flanked by towers spaced from each other by about 250 by 225 meters. To the west and south, it follows the escarpment which overlooks the old city center. You will find the ditch that separates it from the Vaugueux district and the countryside to the east and north.
An emblematic castle
It is made up of the remains of the keep, the governor's home which is currently the Normandy museum, the museum of fine arts, the Saint-Georges church, the Salle de l'Échiquier referring to the Échiquier de Normandie as well as a splendid garden. The church has been transformed into a reception and interpretation center. The Simple Garden was the subject of a superb reconstruction of a medicinal garden from the Middle Ages. All of this, except the ditch, has been classified as a historic monument since April 10, 1997.
A few words about the history of the castle
The castle occupies an area of 5.5 hectares and is one of the largest castles in Europe. Historians believe that the fortress was built around the beginning of the 11th century and the interior of the enclosure dating from the 16th and 17th centuries has already been destroyed. Reconstruction work and excavations of the museum grounds were undertaken by the municipality in the 19th and 20th centuries. Thus, opening its doors to the public since the 1970s, the museum of fine arts exhibits several works including "One Man, nine animals" by Huang Yong Ping.
Want to learn a little more about the Second World War and the Normandy landings? Visit the Caen Memorial. It is an essential historical point of interest in the region.
The Cliff Memorial
The Cliff Memorial is a museum that exhibits the life and survival of people during the Second World War. You also have a list of war casualties on a commemorative plaque. The exhibition has something to amaze young and old alike. The objects are authentic. The guided tour can last several hours.
Learn more about the Battle of Normandy
In addition to the theoretical lessons in history lessons, there is a lot to learn about the Battle of Normandy. In the Caen memorial, you have a film shown in the Circular Cinema Arromanches 360 which teaches you more about the 100 days of battles of the time. It is more pleasant and simpler to discover everything through images.
Complete immersion in the atmosphere of war And if you immerse yourself completely in the atmosphere of the time? A visit to the Mémorial de Caen allows you to do just that. For a few euros, you can visit the 360° immersive room. It is a real sensory experience with sounds and images on the Second World War and the history of France. You will be transported in an instant to another life.
Pegasus Bridge is interesting and the most interesting is definitely the museum visit. Note that it is located 53.2 km from Cerza zoo and 47 km from Falaise Castle. For those who want to know the distances between major airports, it is 245.3 km from Orly Airport and 251 km from CDG Airport