Visiting Gold Beach - History of the D-Day Landings and Key Sites

Gold Beach was one of the five Allied landing areas of the Normandy invasion on 6th June 1944. Situated between Omaha Beach to the west and Juno Beach to the east, it stretched for around 8 kilometres along the coast of Calvados, covering the villages of Asnelles and Ver-sur-Mer, with the town of Arromanches-les-Bains lying within the sector.

The beach was assigned to the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, supported by units of the Royal Marines and specialised armoured vehicles from the 79th Armoured Division. Their objectives were ambitious: to secure the city of Bayeux, capture the coastal town of Arromanches for the construction of a Mulberry Harbour, and establish a link with the Americans landing at Omaha and the Canadians at Juno.

Although Arromanches was within the Gold Beach sector, Allied forces did not land directly on its beaches. The town had been earmarked as the site of an artificial harbour, and damaging its port area or the roads leading inland would have hindered its crucial role as a logistics centre in the days and weeks after D-Day.

Today, Gold Beach is a peaceful stretch of sand dotted with memorials, museums, and remains of wartime fortifications. For visitors, it offers both a chance to walk in the footsteps of history and to explore the lasting legacy of D-Day along the Normandy coast.

Gold Beach Sections

During the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944, Gold Beach was divided into four sectors running from west to east: HOW, ITEM, JIG, and KING.

HOW - Stretched from Port-en-Bessin to just west of Arromanches. This sector lay close to Omaha Beach and later became important for linking British and American forces.

ITEM - Covered the coastline west of Arromanches to La Fontaine Saint-Côme. Arromanches itself was not directly assaulted, as it was reserved for the Mulberry Harbour.

JIG - Ran from La Fontaine Saint-Côme to Asnelles. This area witnessed some of the toughest German resistance during the landings.

KING - Extended from Asnelles to Ver-sur-Mer, where British forces linked up with Canadian troops landing on Juno Beach.

Key Facts about Gold Beach

Location: Calvados coast, Normandy – between Omaha Beach (west) and Juno Beach (east)

Length of sector: Approximately 8 km, covering Asnelles and Ver-sur-Mer, with Arromanches within the area (though not directly assaulted)

Allied forces: British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, supported by the Royal Marines and specialised armour from the 79th Armoured Division

Key objectives: Capture Bayeux, secure Arromanches for the construction of a Mulberry Harbour, link with U.S. forces from Omaha and Canadian forces from Juno

Casualties: Around 1,000 Allied casualties on D-Day

Outcome: Objectives largely achieved, with Bayeux liberated the following day and Arromanches captured to serve as a vital logistics hub

History of the Gold Beach D-Day Landings

On the morning of 6th June 1944, British troops landed on Gold Beach, Normandy as part of the largest amphibious invasion in history. The beach stretched between the villages of Asnelles and Ver-sur-Mer, with Arromanches included in the sector but deliberately left untouched during the assault. The Allies planned to turn Arromanches into a temporary harbour, and damaging the town or its roads would have made that impossible.

The soldiers landing on Gold Beach came from the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, supported by Royal Marines and special armoured vehicles. Their mission was to capture Bayeux, link up with the Americans on Omaha Beach to the west and the Canadians on Juno Beach to the east, and prepare Arromanches for its vital role in supplying the invasion.

German defences along the beach included bunkers, minefields, and artillery, with the Longues-sur-Mer battery firing on both the landing craft and the naval fleet. Some areas, especially near the hamlet of Le Hamel, were fiercely defended, and the troops faced heavy resistance as they came ashore.

Despite the challenges, by the end of D-Day the British had established a firm foothold. Bayeux was liberated the following day, becoming the first major French town freed by the Allies. Soon after, Arromanches was secured and construction began on the Mulberry Harbour, which played a vital role in keeping Allied forces supplied throughout the Battle of Normandy.

Gold Beach Today

Visiting Gold Beach today offers the chance to explore a mix of peaceful seaside villages, museums, and historic sites that tell the story of the landings. Many of the most important locations are just a short drive apart, making it easy to see many sites in a single day.

Arromanches-les-Bains
Arromanches is best known for the remains of the Mulberry Harbour, which can still be seen at low tide just offshore. The town is home to the Musée du Débarquement, which explains how this extraordinary artificial harbour was built and why it was so important for the Allied advance.

Ver-sur-Mer
This small seaside village is the site of the British Normandy Memorial, dedicated to all British personnel who lost their lives during the Battle of Normandy. Nearby you’ll also find the Normandy Gold Beach Museum, which focuses on the local story of D-Day and the wider campaign.

Bayeux
Located just inland, Bayeux was the first major town liberated in France after D-Day. The town is home to the Bayeux War Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in Normandy, and the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, which gives an excellent overview of the campaign.

Longues-sur-Mer Battery
One of the best-preserved German coastal defences in Normandy, the Longues-sur-Mer battery still has its original naval guns in place. Positioned between Omaha and Gold, it provides incredible views over the landing beaches.

Ver-sur-Mer Sexton Tank and Porpoise Ammunition Carrier
A Sexton self-propelled gun in memory of the British troops who landed on the beach at Ver-sur-Mer and a porpoise ammunition carrier

Train Stop dedicated to Stanley Hollis
A light train stop dedicated to the memory of CSM Stanley Hollis VC and the men of the 6th and 7th Battalions of the Green Howards

Mulberry B harbour "Port Winston" at Arromanches
The remains of the artificial Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches can still be seen today and allowed the Allied to unload up to 18000 tons of supplies a day.

Musée du Débarquement
The museum is located next to the beach in Arromanches overlooking the remains of the Mulberry Harbour which allowed the Allies to land heavy equipment and supplies in Normandy

Longues-sur-Mer battery
Longues-sur-Mer Battery was part of Hitlers Atlantic Wall defences in Normandy and still has its four original 152mm navy guns housed in large concrete casemates

Musée des Epaves Sous-Marines
The Musée des Epaves Sous-Marines displays artefacts from Second World War wrecks recovered from the seabed off the shore from Normandy offering insight into the D-Day landings and underwater archaeology

Practical Information for Visitors

A car is recommended for visiting Gold Beach, as it lies some distance from major ports and train stations. Tall cliffs make sections of the coastline inaccessible, so the landing areas are separated by several kilometres. Having a car also makes it possible to explore more remote sites further inland, such as Bayeux, Port-en-Bessin, and the Longues-sur-Mer battery.

Parking is generally free across much of Normandy, but spaces can be hard to find at peak times, especially in Arromanches. If you are able to manage the steep hill, it is worth parking just outside the town near the Arromanches 360 cinema and walking down. This route takes you past memorials, fortifications, and a preserved tank, and also provides one of the best panoramic views of the Mulberry Harbour remains (Port Winston) before you reach the seafront.

As with all of Normandy’s beaches, visitors should take care when exploring at low tide. The combination of wide beaches and tall cliffs makes it possible to become cut off quickly by rising water. Checking tide times before heading out is strongly advised.