Riva-Bella Beach
About Riva-Bella Beach
Riva-Bella Beach is a 2.5-kilometer sandy beach on Normandy's Côte de Nacre (Mother-of-Pearl Coast), forming part of the historic Sword Beach where Allied forces landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944. This was the only D-Day beach where French troops came ashore—177 marines of Commando Kieffer landed here at 7:30 AM and fought to capture the German-fortified casino. The beach features fine golden sand with a gentle slope, making it safe for families. Facilities include lifeguard stations (summer season in central and west zones), restaurants, a thalassotherapy center, and the 1.4-km wooden Promenade de la Paix boardwalk completed in 2019. Nearby stands Le Grand Bunker, a preserved 17-meter German observation tower now serving as the Atlantic Wall Museum. The beach offers designated zones for swimming, sailing, kayaking, and kitesurfing. Dogs are allowed year-round in the east zone and on the Promenade de la Paix, but prohibited in central and west zones from June 15 to September 15.
Interesting Facts
Commander Philippe Kieffer led his 177 French marines despite being wounded during the assault. After capturing the fortified casino around 11:00 AM, his commandos marched inland to link up with British paratroopers at Pegasus Bridge by early afternoon—completing a 10-kilometer advance on the first day of the invasion.
The Germans transformed the beachfront casino into a fortress with machine guns and artillery positions. The building's elevated position gave defenders clear sightlines across the entire beach, making it one of the most dangerous objectives on Sword Beach. House-to-house fighting lasted several hours before the French commandos secured it.
Le Grand Bunker, the 17-meter observation tower visible from the beach, held out for three days after D-Day. British Royal Engineers finally captured it on June 9, 1944, when 52 German soldiers surrendered after a 4-hour siege. The bunker now contains an authentic assault barge used in the filming of Saving Private Ryan.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Esplanade Alexandre Lofi, 14150 Ouistreham, France
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