Campsite near the D-Day landing beaches
A privileged location in Normandy
Located in Port-en-Bessin, in the heart of the Calvados Coast, Camping de la Prairie is your ideal base for exploring Normandy and the D-Day beaches. This Normandy campsite, renowned for its calm and tranquil atmosphere, welcomes you just 500 metres from the town center of Port-en-Bessin, a stone’s throw from the shops and seafront. For families coming to discover the Allied landings of June 6, 1944, or simply to enjoy a relaxing vacation on the English Channel, Camping de la Prairie offers an authentic setting ideally placed for touring the whole region.
Normandy is one of France’s most visited tourist destinations, not only for its memorable heritage, but also for its landscapes, generous gastronomy and warm welcome. When you book your stay at Camping de la Prairie, you’re choosing a convenient, stress-free base from which to cover everything, without ever having to make a long journey. Many holidaymakers return every summer, seduced by the tranquility of the area and the wealth of things to discover within a radius of a few dozen kilometers.
Accommodation and services: our rentals at Camping de la Prairie
Camping de la Prairie offers several types ofaccommodation to meet the needs of every holidaymaker. Our pitches are spacious, well-defined and shaded, with easy access for tents, caravans and motorhomes. Whether you’re looking for a comfortable pitch to pitch your tent or a turnkey rental to stay in fully-equipped accommodation, the campsite offers solutions to suit all budgets and configurations.
Our rentals include fully-equipped mobile homes, designed to accommodate from two to six people in appreciable comfort. Each mobile home includes a fully equipped kitchen, one or more bedrooms, a bright living area and a private terrace. The bare pitches are just as well cared for, with plenty of room to set up your equipment and enjoy a truly rejuvenating vacation.
Our services cover all the essentials for a successful stay: clean and well-maintained sanitary facilities, wi-fi access, a play area for children, and a bicycle reception area for cyclists wishing to visit the region on two wheels. The cleanliness of the sanitary facilities is one of the points most regularly praised by our visitors. A 2-star campsite can offer a quality experience when the basic facilities are beyond reproach, and this is precisely what Camping de la Prairie strives to guarantee season after season.
The campsite also accepts pets, making it accessible to all families, including those who can’t imagine leaving home without their dog. Port-en-Bessin and the surrounding area are ideal for morning walks, along coastal paths or through the Normandy bocage.
An ideal location in the heart of the Côte de Nacre, in Port-en-Bessin
Camping de la Prairie is conveniently located for holidaymakers in Normandy. Just 500 metres from Port-en-Bessin town center, you’re within walking distance of a supermarket, village shops and the seaside. There’s no need to get back in the car to get your morning bread or take an evening stroll along the coast.
Port-en-Bessin is an authentic fishing village, ideally located between Omaha Beach and the British beaches of Arromanches. Its fishing port, one of the busiest in Normandy, livens up the village and sets the tone: here, you’re in the heart of Calvados, in true Normandy, far from the big seaside resorts. The nearest supervised beach is 8 kilometers away, easily accessible by car for an afternoon of family swimming. The Colleville-sur-Mer American cemetery is less than 15 minutes away.
This geographical location is a considerable advantage when it comes to organizing an unforgettable stay. In the morning, you leave early to discover the memorials before the crowds arrive. In the afternoon, you return to relax in the peace and quiet of the campsite. It’s this combination of remembrance, nature and simplicity that makes Camping de la Prairie so popular with holidaymakers from all over Europe.
Camping Omaha Beach and the Normandy Landing: a unique heritage
The D-Day landing beaches within easy driving distance
Staying at a campsite on the D-Day landing beaches means choosing to experience memory up close. The D-Day front stretches over 80 kilometers of Normandy coastline, and Port-en-Bessin puts you at the center of this meaningful territory. In less than 15 minutes by car, you can reach the main commemorative sites in Calvados and discover places that changed the course of the Second World War.
The D-Day landing beaches
Omaha
Omaha Beach is the most emblematic sector of the Allied landings of June 6, 1944. Its stretches of sand, its preserved bunkers and the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer make it an essential place of remembrance. Every year, thousands of visitors from all over the world come to pay their respects at this exceptional historic site.
Utah
Utah Beach, further west, combines nature and memory. With its commemorative monuments and military remains, it’s possible to discover another side of the D-Day landings, on the side of the American forces, in an unspoilt natural setting that’s less frequented.
Gold
Gold Beach is the beach where British troops landed. It is known for its magnificent coastal scenery and historic military remains. Visitors can explore the bunkers, batteries and paths that were used during the June 6, 1944 operation. Gold Beach also offers educational trails and exhibits to help visitors better understand Allied strategy and the challenges faced during D-Day.
Juno
Juno Beach is the beach where Canadian forces played a decisive role in D-Day. It is particularly famous for the Juno Beach Centre, an interactive museum that tells the story of Canadian soldiers and their contribution to the liberation of Normandy. Visitors can explore the military remains and dunes, while taking advantage of the nearby Camping de la Prairie to discover this essential page in world history.
Sword
Sword Beach is the beach where British forces landed in eastern Normandy on June 6, 1944. It is known for its strategic role in the liberation of the region and for the fighting that took place in the immediate vicinity. Visitors can discover the military remains, bunkers and defensive positions still visible, as well as the memorials dedicated to the soldiers who fell during the D-Day landings. Close to Camping de la Prairie, Sword Beach is an essential stopover for anyone wishing to explore the history of the Second World War and understand the scale of this Allied operation.
Arromanches and its artificial harbour
Arromanches and its famous Mulberry artificial harbour are a striking visual experience: the metal structures rising out of the sea still bear witness to the ingenuity of the Allied forces. At low tide, you can approach the harbor for a life-size history lesson.
Places to visit during your stay
Starting from Camping de la Prairie, there are several sites well worth a visit that can easily be incorporated into a week’s vacation in Normandy.
The Caen Memorial is the benchmark for understanding the Second World War in its entirety. Its immersive exhibits make it a must-see, especially for teenagers who want to go beyond a simple visit to the beach sectors.
The Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Eglise retraces the role of American paratroopers during D-Day. With its re-enactments and period vehicles, it’s a particularly popular visit with younger visitors.
The Juno Beach Centre pays tribute to Canadian soldiers, and provides an often overlooked angle on the D-Day landings, with rare testimonies and archives.
Military cemeteries dot the length and breadth of Normandy. American, British, Canadian and German, each in its own way reminds us of the scale of the sacrifice made for the liberation of Europe.
Discover Normandy beyond the beaches
Gastronomy and Normandy produce
Normandy is a gourmet region par excellence. From the Camping de la Prairie, you’re within easy reach of local producers, authentic markets and restaurants offering local specialities. Calvados, cider, camembert, crème fraiche and seafood caught in the Channel: the Normandy table invites you to savor every meal as a moment of pleasure.
Port-en-Bessin is one of Normandy’s leading fishing ports. The local fish market supplies the whole region with fresh fish and shellfish, and the village’s restaurants offer generous menus based on freshly caught seafood.
Landscapes and nature in Calvados
The Côte de Nacre, in the heart of which the campsite is located, boasts a remarkable landscape of limestone cliffs, dunes and fine sandy beaches. Hiking trails skirt the seashore and pass through villages typical of the Normandy bocage. It’s a Normandy to discover on foot or by bike, ideal for holidaymakers who like to combine physical activity with heritage.
Mont-Saint-Michel, the cliffs of Etretat and the Bayeux tapestry are just some of the excursions available from the campsite, where you can combine nature, culture and Norman heritage. Bayeux, just a few kilometers away, is well worth a half-day visit, with its Gothic cathedral and famous museum.
Book your pitch at Camping de la Prairie
Whether you want to spend a week or two, in low season or high summer, Camping de la Prairie offers affordable rates with accommodation to suit every situation. Spring vacations are ideal for visiting sites without the crowds of July and August. Summer lets you take full advantage of the seaside season on the English Channel, with the supervised beach just a few minutes away by car.
Book now to be sure of finding an available pitch or mobile home where you want it. In high season, the campsite sells out quickly, backed by a solid reputation for calm and cleanliness. Families who book early benefit from the best pitches, often shaded and conveniently located for the sanitary facilities and playground.
Whether you’re arriving from Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK or another region of France, Port-en-Bessin is easily accessible via the A13 from Paris, or by ferry from Portsmouth and Poole. A quiet campsite in Normandy, in the heart of the D-Day beaches and just a stone’s throw from the seaside: that’s exactly what Camping de la Prairie has to offer.
Camping de la Prairie – Port-en-Bessin, Calvados (14) – Quiet 2-star campsite in Normandy, in the heart of the D-Day beaches.
