A breathtaking view
of history ...
Café - Restaurant - Karaoke
The Café - Brasserie Les 3 Planeurs is ideally located on the edge of the Caen - Ouistreham canal, facing the Bénouville bridge, a strategic location for the Liberation of June 44.
Our restaurant with its large sunny terrace will welcome you warmly for a moment of relaxation on the route of the historic landing sites.
From March 1 to the end of October, enjoy the animation created by the opening of the bridge of boats passing in transit between Caen and Blainville the canal and sports bike or rollerblades who borrow the towpath completely renovated.
At the back of the restaurant, a car park accommodates vehicles for individual visitors and coaches for groups.
A little history...
The bridge of Bénouville located 7 km from Caen was on the eve of the Landing a strategic point for the transportation of Allied troops and to stop German reinforcements coming from the east. The now legendary 6th British Airborne Division whose emblem is Pegasus, the winged horse was responsible for maintaining this bridge and that of the Orne.
On June 5, 44, the men commanded by Major John Howard, distributed in six gliders towed by bombers, were released into the area shortly after midnight.
Three of them land as planned near the Bénouville bridge and take it in ten minutes. The other three are targeting the Orne bridge, which will also be neutralized. Renamed "Pegasus Bridge", the Bénouville bridge goes down in history as the first liberated bridge in France, just like the café Gondrée.
They will be joined in the early afternoon by the Lovat commando. The famous piper "piper Bill Millin" is immortalized in the film "The longest day" shot by MGM on the spot in 1964.
Some vestiges remain near the restaurant: a British Centaur tank and on the other side of the bridge a German anti-aircraft gun. They testify to the hardness of the fighting which continued in this sector until the middle of July, date on which Operation Goodwood took over for the liberation of Caen. On July 21 the operation will be a success despite the destruction of 80% of the city, mostly by the allies.
