Before the exciting second lockdown, I was able to manage a couple of little coastal adventures. This one is Pointe du Hoc, outside of Criqueville-en-Bessin.
Pointe du Hoc for me is one of the reminders of the importance of the Normandy coastline in the 20th century. It is the littered ruins of structures both on and offshore alongside reels of barbed wire. It is pretty incredible how much history is in the ground here, yet it’s so easy to forget.
Pointe du Hoc
Pointe du Hoc was one of key features of the German defensive fortification along the Atlantic Wall. Placed between Omaha and Utah beaches, this defensive fortification was imperative to take during the Normandy invasion. The point was captured on the morning of the 6th of June 1944 by Colonel Rudder’s Rangers. Today you can visit the site for free, and see the remains of the bunkers and imagine the scale of fortifications that stood there almost 80 years ago.
The place itself is perched on a 100ft cliff edge, facing out into the English Channel. It became a point of significance during the D-Day landings due to it being the highest point along the stretch of coastline that is now known as the landing beaches. The place is free to visit for the public throughout the year, with great parking access and a wealth of information on the structure and the soldiers involved in the battle in 1944.
Visit
If you would like to know more about this historic place and other relevant places, head over the tourism site for Normandie and Calvados!
Hopefully, I can share more snapshots of France next year, as for now I’ll be revisiting the old photos I have not shared so we can all enjoy the outside safely.
It’s gorgeous!