"Not too far off the beaten track." Merville-Franceville-Plage Off The Beaten Path Tip by ranger49

Merville-Franceville is one of the five towns that make up an important area of protected coast in the bay and estuary of the River Orne. The others are Sallenelles, Amfrenelles, Ranville and Ouistreham.
Such an area is always likely to have experienced human occupation and activity since time immemorial - archeological evidence exists to support this.
But such activity - on land and along the river - is damaging to the river banks, salt marshes and sand dunes that provide the natural habitat of over 100 species of birds - resident and summer and winter visitors, and the coastal flora.

From Merville Franceville Plage you can follow the coastal path towards Sallenelles, passing on the way the way the Vauban styled defensive installation - Le Redoute - until you reach Sallenelles and La maison de la nature et d'estuaire.
This centre provides information and educational opportunities about the Association and its work and from it there are clearly marked pathways.

In the bay at Sallenelles you will find a small cafe/bar/restaurant -
Cafe de la Baie - a convenient watering hole or lunch time stop.at 1 Boulevard Maritime, Tel.02 31 78 80 45

The village of Sallenelles impressed us, when we first drove through, as a well kept, pretty location. It was only later we found out the part it played in the D-Day Landings. A number of plaques commemorating Belgian servicemen who died there can be seen in the village.