Pegasus Bridge
Early on June 6, 1944, the British 6th Airborne Division landed by glider and captured this bridge, which local residents later named for the division's emblem of Bellerophon astride his winged horse. This proved to be the first step toward liberating France from Nazi occupation, and the bridge itself became a symbol of the Allied invasion. To see it, take D514 north from Caen for 13 km (8 miles) and turn right at Bénouville. The original bridge—erected in 1935—has been replaced by a similar, slightly wider one, but the older span can be seen at the adjacent Mémorial Pegasus visitor center. Café Gondrée, by the bridge—the first building recaptured on French soil—is still standing and still serving rather expensive food and drinks; it also displays wartime memorabilia. A full-size replica Horsa glider is currently on view in the museum's park, with a fully refurbished cockpit.
