Pegasus Bridge
Bénouville, France
The canal bridge seized by British glider troops in the first minutes of D-Day. The original span now stands in the Memorial Pegasus museum across the water at Ranville.
In the night of 5 to 6 June 1944, five gliders carrying men of D Company, 2nd Battalion, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, under Major John Howard, landed at 00:16 only a few dozen metres from the bridges over the Orne canal and the River Orne. Within about ten minutes the Bénouville Bridge and the Horsa Bridge had been taken. Later in 1944 the Bénouville Bridge was named Pegasus Bridge after the flying horse on the badge of the British airborne forces.
In 1994 it was replaced by a new bascule bridge; the original bridge now stands in the grounds of the Mémorial Pegasus in Ranville, which opened in 2000 and displays a replica Horsa glider. According to the Calvados tourist board, the museum is closed for renovation from September 2026 to May 2027 (as of October 2026); ask the Mémorial beforehand what remains accessible in the meantime. You can still see the present bridge over the canal.
- Nearest town
- Bénouville, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 49.2420, -0.2747
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Aire de camping-cars de Colleville-MontgomeryMotorhome stopover4 km from Pegasus Bridge · 16 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Le Point du Jour CampingCampsite8 km from Pegasus Bridge · 139 pitchesTentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping OasisCampsite8 km from Pegasus Bridge · 142 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping & Espace Loisirs Pierre SoismierCampsite11 km from Pegasus BridgeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Aire de camping-car Bretteville sur OdonMotorhome stopover14 km from Pegasus Bridge · 20 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Aire de camping-car communale du Parc de l'Edit à Courseulles-sur-MerMotorhome stopover16 km from Pegasus BridgeMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedFree
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Pegasus Bridge?
Pegasus Bridge is in Bénouville, France, at GPS 49.2420, -0.2747. It is about 10 km from Caen.
Can you camp near Pegasus Bridge?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Capfun Hautes Coutures, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 66 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Pegasus Bridge?
Pegasus Bridge is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Normandy’s D-Day beaches.
What is there to see near Pegasus Bridge?
Places worth a stop nearby: Arromanches Mulberry harbour (27 km), Saint Joseph’s Church, Le Havre (39 km), Normandy American Cemetery (44 km) and Pont de Normandie (45 km).
When is the best time to visit Pegasus Bridge?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)