Café Gondrée is a small café located in the French community of Bénouville. The café is situated on the west bank of the Caen Canal, at the north-west end of the Bénouville Bridge, now commonly known as the Pegasus Bridge.
The building was the site of the first combat during the D-Day invasion and is best known for its role in commemorating these events. 1 Three British paratroopers entered the café at 6:20 am on 6 June 1944, liberating the café. At the time of these events, the café was run by Georges and Thérèse Gondrée. They had been involved in the French Resistance and had passed information about the defences around the bridge to British intelligence through the French Resistance.
Today, Café Gondrée is a place of honour for the men who came to fight in the Normandy campaign. British paratroopers also mark the anniversary of D-Day at the café every 5 June. The walls of the cafe are decorated with regimental insignia, old uniforms, helmets and photos of the operation's leaders.