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Bénouville

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Calvados

Bénouville - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Calvados
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Bénouville is a town of Calvados, Normandy region, 10 km northeast of Caen.

Its territory 5 km² located on the left bank of the Orne and the Caen canal to the sea, the latter having been opened to navigation in 1857 as a substitute in the Orne was silted.

Already occupied by fishermen during prehistory, the site of Bénouville appreciated since ancient times when a ferry on the Orne allows passage of a Roman road linking Pont-Audemer in Bayeux.

Later, the village that lives off agriculture and fishing is famous for its castle restored in the eighteenth century by the famous architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux: the field remains the heritage jewel of Bénouville.

In June 1944, the bridge Bénouville and the neighboring town of Ranville are subject to a daring airborne operation in the early hours of D-Day Allied armies will hold heroically these strategic crossing points and the cafe adjoining the bridge remains in history as the first home have been released after the landing.

With now just over 2,000 inhabitants, Bénouville highlights its heritage and history, near Caen Ouistreham and beaches where hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers landed. A step even more interesting and fun than the environment of the town is charming.

Geographical information

MunicipalityBénouville
Postcode14970
Tourism label
Latitude49.2431950 (N 49° 14’ 36”)
Longitude-0.2782510 (W 0° 16’ 42”)
AltitudeFrom 1m to 50m
Surface area5.28 km²
Population2065 inhabitants
Density391 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureCaen (9.8 km, 13 min)
Insee code14060
IntercommunalityCU Caen la Mer
DepartmentCalvados
RegionNormandy

Nearest cities & towns

Saint-Aubin-d'Arquenay2.2 km (4 min)
Ranville2.6 km (6 min)
Blainville-sur-Orne2.8 km (5 min)
Amfreville4 km (7 min)
Hérouvillette4.5 km (7 min)
Colleville-Montgomery4.6 km (7 min)
Sallenelles5.4 km (7 min)
Bréville-les-Monts5.7 km (10 min)
Colombelles6.2 km (7 min)
Hermanville-sur-Mer6.4 km (10 min)
Ouistreham6.5 km (9 min)
Escoville6.5 km (12 min)
Biéville-Beuville7.4 km (11 min)
Merville-Franceville-Plage7.8 km (10 min)

Things to see and do

In terms of heritage, despite the struggles of liberation, the village has preserved ancient heritage elements.

This is the case of the Church of Our Lady, listed on the Inventory, the choir dating from the late twelfth century has pointed arches while the nave is later (XVI, XVII). At the chorus, frescoes Louis Chifflet (completed in 1895) are to see, evoking the childhood of Christ, and we note elsewhere in the nave a headstone from 1768 on behalf of Antoine Gillain, Marquis de Bénouville. The family coat of arms are highlighted. In addition, two wooden statues are preserved: one of St. Eutropius, the other representing Our Lady of the Port. The tabernacle (Eucharistic reserve) polychrome stone, consisting of two cylindrical floors topped by a dove is also worth a glance.

More modest, two old wash of which has been lovingly restored can be seen near the canal.

The Bénouville jewel is its castle on the foundations of a medieval building, it has been completely redesigned between 1769 and 1780 by the architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux. The French neo-classical style is sublimated there. The audacity of the monumental staircase, the majesty of the railing bordering the terrace, the facades are among the most remarkable elements, besides a perfectly preserved interior. Ownership of the General Council from 1927, historical monument, the castle and its 11 hectare park home once an institution dedicated to mothers in difficulty, and a maternity and children of public assistance. Restored in 1985, the castle was then the headquarters of the Regional Chamber of Accounts. It is now occupied by the European Institute of Gardens and Landscapes. Events (conferences, seminars) are organized and open to the public occasionally visits scheduled. Information at +33 2 31 95 53 23.

It is then necessary to discover the sites related to the fighting in June 1944. Such Gondré the coffee, first released building (it is now included in the Inventory), and the site of the "Pegasus Bridge", which seized the soldiers of an Allied commando in the night of June 5 to 6, an operation initiated somehow landing. The original bridge is now kept in a museum in the nearby town of Ranville. He was replaced to cross the channel with a new bridge in 2000.

The Signal, inaugurated in 1954, appears to share a monument funded after the war by selling Landing wrecks. Finally, along the canal, we see the bust of Major John Howard, who celebrates the memory of one who distinguished himself at the head of the commando operation Pegasus.

If history in the twentieth century, especially World War II, have made the channel a river staked memorial sites, it also remains a pleasant walking destination. Its banks allow to understand a preserved natural environment. Frequented by now leisure craft (after an axis of economic development linking Caen to the coast), the channel is suitable for fishing and hiking. Loops and courses include the ability to reach Ouistreham and the sea.

Maps and information +33 2 31 27 14 14.

Places of interest

Monuments

Events and festivities

The last Saturday of June, feast of St. John with parade, kindling and concerts.

Every Wednesday morning, the market showcases local produce and the sea.

Midnight Ceremony
Concert d'Accueil des Familles et Amis des Vétérans du Major Howard
Feu d'Artifice Musical de la Midnight Ceremony
Défilé des Enfants de Bénouville et Fleurissement des Tombes Anglaises au Cimetière
D-Day Normandy Cup & Concerts Celtiques
Cérémonie au Monument du 7ème Bataillon de Parachutistes
Défilé Mairie – Pegasus Bridge

Photos

Bridge Bénouville in snow
Bridge Bénouville in snow
See photo
Commemoration of June 6
Commemoration of June 6
See photo

Weather

Thursday 28 march
Min. 4°C - Max. 12°C
Day
Night
Friday 29 march
Min. 6°C - Max. 14°C
Day
Night
Saturday 30 march
Min. 7°C - Max. 14°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Climbing in a big block gym
Sports sensations12 € to 30 € Caen (9.1 km)
Electric bike excursion in Calvados
Sports sensations40 € to 245 € Deauville (29 km)
Guided bike tour in Deauville and Trouville sur Mer
Culture and education130 € Deauville (30 km)
Bike and scooter hire and delivery
Sports sensations15 € to 190 € Trouville-sur-Mer (30 km)
Show: Norman Towns, land of poetry, Bayeux
Entertainment17 € Bayeux (31 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Cliffs of Black Cows
HikeEasy2:00Villers-sur-Mer (22 km)
The beach, a fragile refuge
HikeAthletic4:30Cricqueboeuf (35 km)
Stroll Impressionist
Village visitIntermediate2:00Honfleur (42 km)
Aquacaux with the family
HikeEasy1:30Octeville-sur-Mer (43 km)
Saint Helier Trail
HikeEasy3:00Beuzeville (46 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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