Pegasus Bridge

What it is

Pegasus Bridge is the bascule bridge over the Caen canal to the sea, in Bénouville, which British airborne troops took by surprise in the first hour of 6 June 1944. Major John Howard's gliders landed next to it at about 0:16, before the beach landings began, and within minutes they controlled the bridge; another group simultaneously took the Ranville bridge over the River Orne. The name comes from the emblem of the British 6th Airborne Division: the winged horse Pegasus.

Today it is a short stop of twenty minutes between the coast and Caen. The bridge you see is not the 1944 one: the original, from 1935, was replaced in 1994 by a similar, longer one, and the old one is on display in the museum next door.

What you see

• The current bridge, over the same canal and on the same spot as the 1944 one.
• The Café Gondrée, beside the bridge, which presents itself as the first house liberated in mainland France; some historians dispute this and point to another house across the road.
• The Mémorial Pegasus, the museum of the 6th Airborne Division, in Ranville, on the other side of the canal. It holds the original bridge, a Horsa glider and a Bailey bridge.

The museum, closed for building work

The Mémorial Pegasus is undergoing building work. In 2026 it opened from 2 March to 31 August, with reduced prices because of the works, and is closed from 1 September to 15 December 2026. In 2027 it will close from January to May, and the reopening date has not yet been set; the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église treats it as closed until June 2027. Check its website before you go.

When it is open, the visit takes 1 hour 15 minutes on average. The 2026 rates were €8.50 for adults and €5 for children and students, with a €1 discount with the Explore Normandy Pass.

Getting there and parking

The bridge is in Bénouville, on the canal between Caen and Ouistreham, east of the beach sector. The museum is at 1 avenue du Major Howard, in Ranville. Park where the signs indicate and cross on foot.

When to go

While the museum is closed, it is not worth a separate trip: stop here in passing, between Sword Beach, Ouistreham and the Mémorial de Caen. When it reopens, allow an hour and a half for the museum and the bridge.

With children

The story of the gliders landing at night beside the bridge goes down well with children. With the museum closed, the stop is short and outdoors.