Pegasus Bridge, Rolling lift bridge in Bénouville, France
Pegasus Bridge is a Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge over the Caen Canal, its deck carried on a counterweighted steel frame that rolls back on curved tread plates rather than pivoting on a hinge. The current structure, built by Spie Batignolles, replaced the 1935 bridge in 1994 and has a movable span of 45.70 metres.
British troops from the 6th Airborne Division seized the crossing in the opening minutes of June 6, 1944, during Operation Overlord. The original 1934 structure was replaced in 1994 and relocated beside a memorial museum.
The bridge was renamed on 11 March 1945 after the Pegasus emblem of the British airborne forces, showing Bellerophon riding the winged horse. The Gondrée family's café, about 20 metres from the bridge, is inscribed as a monument historique; Arlette Gondrée, a small child there in 1944, still ran it in later years. A plaque installed in June 1954 marks the house's liberation, though historian Norbert Hugedé argues the Picot house opposite was secured first.
Visitors can tour the museum and old structure throughout the year, with longer hours in summer. Access is via a road along the canal, and parking is available nearby.
Lieutenant Den Brotheridge was the first Allied soldier killed on D-Day while leading the assault on the crossing. His grave lies in the cemetery at Ranville, a few kilometers away.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,609 contributors worldwide.
