About The Pegasus Bridge Museum
The Pegasus Bridge Museum, officially known as Memorial Pegasus, in Normandy houses the famous Pegasus Bridge, which was captured by British forces on the night of 5-6 June 1944 during the Second World War.
The Pegasus Bridge Museum history
Located between Caen and the sea, Pegasus Bridge was captured by the very first liberators from the British 6th Airborne Division that landed on Norman soil on the night of the 5th to the 6th of June 1944.
The capture of Pegasus Bridge was carried out in order to protect the eastern flank of the landing operations at Sword Beach as part of the Allied invasion of German-occupied Northern Europe. It played a vital role in aiding this attack, part of Operation Overlord, more commonly known as the Normandy Landings or “D-Day”.
Visitors to the Pegasus Bridge Museum can not only learn about the events of the capture of this important strategic point, but also about the forces which carried it out, the British 6th Airborne Division.
The Pegasus Bridge Museum today
With displays of historic items such as weapons and gliders, documents, photographs and, of course, Pegasus Bridge itself, visitors can learn about various missions carried out by this division and about the capture of the bridge on D-Day, which has been nicknamed “The Longest Day” after the 1961 film based on the offensive.
There is an auditorium, film projection room and a reproduction of one of the gliders that landed in Normandy during D-Day.
Guided tours are available and last around an hour and a quarter.
Getting to The Pegasus Bridge Museum
Pegagus Bridge Museum is located almost exactly halfway between the city of Caen and Sword Beach. From the seafront follow the D514 until you reach the town and bay of Ouistreham. From here follow the D18 southbound along the Canal de Caen a la Mer until you reach Benouville. Simply follow directions to Pegasus Bridge from here.
If travelling northbound from Caen take the D515 along the Canal de Caen a la Mer until you reach Benouville.
There is free parking by the museum.
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