La Vélomaritime de Courseulles-sur-Mer à Ouistreham

Courseulles-sur-Mer is one of the most fashionable and lively seaside resorts on the Côte de Nacre. It lives to the rhythm of its fishing port. Enjoy the central beach, on the east side, from the wooden jetty to the Cap Fun campsite. Lined with small white beach huts, it is pleasant to walk along the 600-metre-long pedestrian seawall. Swimming, sand castles, sunbathing... to each his own! Several events are organised during the season: wooden games, children's club, beach volleyball, fireworks... The beach huts can be rented from 15 June to 30 September on reservation with the entertainment service: the entertainment service on 02 31 36 17 17. Supervised swimming: from Wednesday 3 July to Sunday 1 September inclusive, from 11.30am to 6.15pm. station-courseulles.snsm.org/ Showers: Two shower areas, 1 changing room at the landing esplanade, under the Crémaillère terrace and 1 shower/toilet cubicle at the marinas. Toilets: open during the beach surveillance period in July and August at the aid station. Our friends the dogs: Dogs can be walked on a lead from the Cap Fun campsite to the Cale du Platon at Bernières-sur-Mer all year round. However, during the period of beach surveillance (July and August), our dog friends are not allowed to access the beach, even at low tide in the eastern zone (from the pier to the riprap of the Marinas) as well as in the western zone (from the riprap of the outer harbour exit channel to the limit of Graye-sur-Mer). On the dyke, dogs must be kept on a lead. Don't forget to bring a dog excrement bag! The tourist office of Courseulles-sur-Mer distributes them free of charge. Horses: Horses are allowed outside the bathing areas at low tide. Bicycles: Bicycles are not allowed on the sea wall. However, just a stone's throw from the beach is the Vélomaritime with a cycle path along the Avenue de la Combattante and along the seafront from the Cap Fun campsite to the Parc de l'Edit. It is then possible to cycle to Bernières-sur-Mer. Courseulles-sur-Mer is on the Vélomaritime route. This 1,500 km long cycle route from Roscoff to Dunkirk passes through mythical sites such as the D-Day landing beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel and the cliffs of Etretat. Access for people with disabilities: Tiralo available at the lifeguard station only during the beach surveillance period. There is a carpet for access to the beach.

On the east side of the seawall, the fishermen’s pier is an extension to the Brèche Marais Street. It was brought from Ouistreham’s outer harbour in 1971. It has become a popular fishing spot for anglers.

The Platon wetland, which means a small coastal prairie, is situated behind the dunes where the Seulles river bed used to be before it was redirected from Bernières to Courseulles- sur-mer. It is home to a wide variety of plant species and abundant wildlife ( fish, amphibians and insects) including two rares species: one animal, the Natterjack toad, and one aquatic plant, Ruppia maritima, also known as Widegeon grass.

This seafront cliff is located alongside the villages of St Aubin sur Mer and Bernières sur Mer and offers a vast array of fossils of great geological interest. This deposit is an extremely rare section that serves as a reference for the Jurassic period; fossil collection is strictly forbidden. Display case at the St Aubin sur Mer tourist office; guided tours are organised by the association Patrimoine Géologique de Normandie. Free access to the site, information panels throughout.

Until 1851, Saint-Aubin, a fishermen's hamlet, was part of the commune of Langrune. The town was emancipated and owes its development to the sea bathing industry. The medicinal virtues of the sea water and its invigorating air earned it, and still earns it today, the appellation The Queen of Iodine. The Belle Epoque atmosphere of the seawall and its villas, the casino and the five restaurants on the seafront are a delight for holidaymakers. The 1.8 km long pedestrian seawall is lined with beautiful villas with seaside architecture. On the beach, you can see wooden poles connected by large ropes: these are the remains of the "rope bathing" era. They allowed bathers to enjoy the benefits of the water in complete safety. You can still hang on to them for safe bathing. Supervised swimming: supervised beach in July and August, according to tide times. station-saintaubin.snsm.org/ Showers: in front of the tourist office on the beach, at the first aid post, in summer WC: all year round in the car park on rue de Verdun (PMR), Rue de la fosse aux chats, Place du Marché, corner of rue pasteur and rue Mériel, rue Maréchal Joffre near the media library. In summer: WC under the first aid post. Cycling: cycling is prohibited on the Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer seawall all year round. There is a shared road in rue Pasteur. Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer is on the Vélomaritime route. This 1,500 km cycle route from Roscoff to Dunkirk crosses legendary sites such as the D-Day landing beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel and the cliffs of Etretat. Access for people with disabilities: Accessible sea wall. Parking and WC for disabled persons (opposite Hôtel Le Saint-Aubin). 1 free Tiralo available at the first aid post on the sea wall in July and August. 1 Carpet allows access to the beach at the slipway, opposite the Green Crab restaurant. Our friends the dogs: Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, except from 15 June to 31 August in the area between the Green Crab restaurant and the summer sailing club. Please remember to bring a doggie waste bag! Horses: At low tide outside the supervised swimming areas. Access from the Brèche des Acadiens. Obligation to pick up the droppings left by your horse on the beach.

On the night of 14 to 15 January 1885, a 40-tonne, 19-metre whale washed up on the shores of the Côte de Nacre at a place known as the "Brèche du Moulin". Today, the whale is the pride of Luc-sur-mer, where we are lucky enough to be able to approach its immense skeleton in the municipal park, much to the delight of young and old alike. In the same place, come and discover the Maison de la Baleine (Whale House), which tells the incredible story of the whale that washed up in Normandy, as well as the history of this species of cetacean. Inside you'll find an area devoted to stories and anecdotes about whales, a memorandum on whale hunting and protection, a scientific area containing anatomical and physiological data on these mammals, a video room showing a film retracing the history of the Luc whale, a retrospective on the beaching of the elfin whale with documents from the period, and a shop selling souvenirs, postcards, books, etc. The Maison de la Baleine houses the tourist office.

Made famous by the Pèlerins de la Délivrande in 1820 and renowned for its bathing establishment, Luc is one of the leading seaside resorts on the Côte de Nacre. Its 1.8km long seawall is lined with small white cabins, the casino, the famous clock and the thalassotherapy. Don't miss a Gui-Gui at the Place du Petit Enfer and a walk along the famous fishermen's pier, well known to anglers and photography enthusiasts. The beach at Luc-sur-Mer is also one of the best spots for fishing in Calvados. At low tide, in the middle of the rocks, you can find green crabs, bouquet, curlers, mussels, winkles... The family and dynamic beach of Luc-sur-Mer offers a thousand and one activities! Try out one of the water sports offered by the sailing school from the age of 4 years old: training course for young sailors, schooner outings, catamaran, windsurfing... For cabin hire, contact the town hall: 02 31 97 71 33, 02 31 97 32 71 Supervised swimming : Every day from 6 July to 31 August in the bathing area opposite the lifeguard station 11am to 6pm (weekdays) 11am to 6.30pm (bank holidays and weekends) From 15 June to 15 September, two modular platforms are installed in the swimming area. station-lucsurmer.snsm.org/ Shower: 1 shower in summer at the 3 automatic toilets on the breakwater (sailing school, first aid post and jetty). Toilets: on the breakwater at the sailing school, near the first aid post and at the jetty Bicycles: Bicycles are allowed on the breakwater between 1 September and 1 July, except at weekends and on public holidays, from 11am to 7pm. In summer, bicycles are only allowed on the sea wall before 9am and after 7pm. There is a cycle path along the beach on Rue Guynemer and Rue du Dr Charcot, which is part of the Vélomaritime. Luc-sur-Mer is on the Vélomaritime route. This 1,500 km cycle route from Roscoff to Dunkirk passes through mythical sites such as the D-Day landing beaches, Mont-Saint-Michel and the cliffs of Etretat. Access for people with disabilities: Dyke accessible with assistance (steep slope) from the car park of the casino and the Beau Rivage hotel. The sea wall is accessible via a gentle slope from the Place du Petit Enfer (go down to the Cabin 530 shop). Tiralo available during the summer school holidays during the opening hours of the lifeguard station. Our friends the dogs: From 1 October to 31 March, dogs are allowed on the sea wall and on the beach on a lead. From 1st April to 30th September, they are only allowed off-leash on the beach from the Rue des Champs Elysées (to the right of the lifeguard station no. 2) from the rocks, at the Chemin du Corps de Garde level. Dogs are allowed on the sea wall all year round on a lead. Remember to bring a bag for dog mess! Horses: At low tide before 9am and after 6pm. Access at rue Guynemer/rue Gambetta and rue de la brèche marais

Rocky beach bordered by the ‘Confessionaux’ cliffs - the ideal spot for shellfish gathering and for collecting fossils. It offers a unique view over the Côte de Nacre and Côte Fleurie coastlines.

From Lion-sur-Mer to Hermanvile-sur-Mer, the elegant villas built by rich 19th century families, offer a great diversity of styles. They are a fine illustration of a century of seafront architecture. Don’t miss La Bleuette, a listed historic monument.

Fine sandy beach under lifeguard surveillance and lined with remarkable 19th and early 20th century villas. The ideal spot for bathing over a fine day at the beach.

Fine sandy beach with waters often ‘A’ quality classified. The seafront environment, as the village centre, has been rewarded 5 times over with the European blue flag. This beach was one of the theatres of the D-Day Landings on the 6th of June 1944.

Located right in the center of the seaside resort of Ouistreham Riva-Bella, in the Avenue de la mer, right next to the cycle paths and routes of the Vélo Francette and Vélomaritime® (EuroVelo 4), Riva Location Vélo is the ideal starting point for your cycling excursions.