Set on Gold Beach, one of the five D-Day landing beaches of 6 June 1944, Asnelles is a small Normandy village right on the water, minutes from Arromanches and Bayeux. Here is everything there is to see and do around our two seafront rentals.
The D-Day beaches around Asnelles
Asnelles is an ideal base for touring the D-Day sites: most of them are less than thirty minutes away by car.
Gold Beach — Asnelles
The British landing beach, right in front of the flat. Remains of the artificial harbour are visible at low tide.
Arromanches & Port Winston
The famous "Mulberry" artificial harbour, the 360° cinema and the D-Day museum. Not to be missed.
British Normandy Memorial, Ver-sur-Mer
Inaugurated in 2021, looking out over Gold Beach.
Longues-sur-Mer battery
One of the best-preserved German batteries, with its guns still in place.
Juno Beach — Courseulles
The Canadian beach and its thorough memorial centre.
Omaha Beach & the American cemetery
The American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer and the Pointe du Hoc, further west.
Things to do in Asnelles itself
🏖️ The beach & the sea wall
A vast stretch of fine sand at low tide — perfect for walking, running, or watching the sun set over the Channel.
🪁 Sand yachting
The flat beach at Asnelles is made for sand yachting — a sensation of its own, facing the Channel wind.
🦪 Shore fishing
At low tide, gather cockles and other shellfish (do check the tide times and the local rules first).
🥖 Market & local produce
Local produce, cider, Normandy cheeses, fresh fish: the region's larder within easy reach.
Worth seeing nearby
Bayeux
The Bayeux Tapestry (UNESCO), the cathedral and the British war cemetery. The first town in France to be liberated.
Caen & the Mémorial
The Mémorial de Caen, one of the largest museums devoted to the Second World War and to peace.
Honfleur
The picturesque harbour and the Côte Fleurie, for a day out.
| Place | By car |
|---|---|
| Arromanches-les-Bains | ≈ 10 min |
| Ver-sur-Mer (British Normandy Memorial) | ≈ 10 min |
| Longues-sur-Mer battery | ≈ 12 min |
| Bayeux | ≈ 20 min |
| Juno Beach (Courseulles) | ≈ 20 min |
| Omaha Beach / American cemetery | ≈ 35 min |
| Caen (Mémorial) | ≈ 40 min |
Frequently asked questions
Which D-Day beach is Asnelles on?
Asnelles sits on Gold Beach, one of the five D-Day landing beaches of 6 June 1944 (British sector). The beach and the sea wall are right in front of our rentals.
Which D-Day sites can you visit from Asnelles?
Arromanches and its artificial harbour (Port Winston) about 4 km away, the Longues-sur-Mer battery 9 km away, the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer 5 km away, Juno Beach at Courseulles 13 km away, and Omaha Beach with the American cemetery at Colleville about 30 km away.
What is there to do in Asnelles on a sunny day?
Enjoy the wide sandy beach, try sand yachting, go shore fishing at low tide, walk along the sea wall, or head out to the D-Day sites and Bayeux.
How far is Asnelles from Bayeux?
Bayeux is about 12 km from Asnelles, roughly twenty minutes by car. There you can visit the famous Bayeux Tapestry, the cathedral and the British war cemetery.
Stay facing the sea
Our two rentals — Le Belle Vue (sea view) and Le Tiny Beach — are in Asnelles itself, right on the water, in the heart of the D-Day beaches. Book directly with us.
See the rentals The house guide