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Pointe du Hoc, Cricqueville-en-Bessin

4.7
#4 of 96 in Historic Sites in Calvados
Must see · Historic Site · Tourist Spot
Pointe du Hoc, a rocky headland towering over the beach, has become a symbol of the courage of U.S. troops. Here, Germans had placed bunkers and artillery. The positions were bombed, shelled, and then attacked by 225 U.S. Rangers, who scaled the 35 m (115 ft) rock wall, besieged the bunkers, and finally took them, only to find there were no guns at all. They had been dismantled and hidden in an orchard. Only 90 rangers were still standing. Today, bomb and shell craters remain. A monument in memory of the 2nd Rangers Battalion is built on a control firing casemate at the site, where bodies of soldiers still lie under the ruins. Choose to start, finish, or center your holiday on a trip to Pointe du Hoc by using our Cricqueville-en-Bessin sightseeing planning app.
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Tours to Pointe du Hoc

D-Day tour - Omaha Beach sector - morning or afternoon group tour from Bayeux BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $78
5.0
Duration: 4 hours
Buy tours from $78
D-Day Tour - Utah Beach and Omaha Beach - full day group tour from Bayeux BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $138
5.0
Duration: 8 hours
Buy tours from $138
Full-Day American Battlefields and Sites of Normandy Tour from Bayeux BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $140
5.0
Duration: 8 hours
Buy tours from $140

Pointe du Hoc reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
2,245 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • By kenb2015
    Seeing the crater scared surface and the reinforced battery emplacements really gives you a small sense of what these Rangers were up against when they started the invasion. Just amazing.  more »
  • By Dimitris L
    Pointe du Hoc occupies a very special spot in the history of the allied invasion of Normandy and the defeat of the Germans in World War II. In June 1944 American troops climbed very high and...  more »
  • By JenBlack85
    This spot should not be left out when it comes to D-day history. The entrance was free, we actually went twice in one day because the weather was too bad to take photos the first time. There still is....  more »
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Google
  • By Troy Michalik
    Amazing place to visit. Take precautions, because it's windy! Fantastic walk through site with plenty of climbing and searching of bunkers, so wear good shoes.
  • By Foodprints
    Despite the perfect weather, the atmosphere was heavy and solemn. The historical accounts of the battle and aftermath were detailed on various tablets on site, and one could almost hear the gunfire that once tore through the deadly two-day battle that killed and wounded hundreds of soldiers, including nearly two-thirds of the American landing force.
  • By Evan Massie
    One of the better battery’s to visit. The views are amazing and between the remains of bunkers and shell impacts it gives you a better perspective of the challenges the allies overcame
  • By Mark Wardell
    To actually see the original guns still in place, awesome.
  • By Robert Lowell
    Beautiful, bomb cratered spot between Utah and Omaha beaches. A place to remember great bravery and sacrifice. The story and impression is indelible.
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Side trips from Cricqueville-en-Bessin

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Overlord Museum - Omaha Beach
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Omaha Beach Memorial Museum
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Plans to Pointe du Hoc by other users

56 days in Switzerland & France BY A USER FROM THE NETHERLANDS March, culture, historic sites, museums, wildlife, popular sights Preferences: March, culture, historic sites, museums, wildlife Attraction style: Popular sights Pace: Medium 27 days in France BY A USER FROM ETHIOPIA November, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife, popular sights Preferences: November, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife Attraction style: Popular sights Pace: Medium 28 days in France BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES November, outdoors, historic sites, museums, slow & easy, popular & hidden gems Preferences: November, outdoors, historic sites, museums Attraction style: Popular & hidden gems Pace: Slow & easy 38 days in France BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM May, popular sights Preferences: May Attraction style: Popular sights Pace: Medium 14 days in France BY A USER FROM RUSSIA October, culture, outdoors, romantic, historic sites, museums, shopping, popular & hidden gems Preferences: October, culture, outdoors, romantic, historic sites, museums, shopping Attraction style: Popular & hidden gems Pace: Medium 16 days in France, The Netherlands & Brussels BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES April, popular sights Preferences: April Attraction style: Popular sights Pace: Medium 31 days in France BY A USER FROM ISRAEL June, teens, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, shopping, wildlife, popular sights Preferences: June, teens, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, shopping, wildlife Attraction style: Popular sights Pace: Medium 7 days in Normandy BY A USER FROM FRANCE October, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, popular sights Preferences: October, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites Attraction style: Popular sights Pace: Medium 15 days in France BY A USER FROM PORTUGAL October, romantic, beaches, historic sites, hidden gems Preferences: October, romantic, beaches, historic sites Attraction style: Hidden gems Pace: Medium 7 days in Normandy BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM October, teens, culture, historic sites, popular sights Preferences: October, teens, culture, historic sites Attraction style: Popular sights Pace: Medium 3 days in France BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM October, fast-paced, hidden gems Preferences: October Attraction style: Hidden gems Pace: Fast-paced 5 days in France BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES August, culture, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife, popular & hidden gems Preferences: August, culture, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife Attraction style: Popular & hidden gems Pace: Medium
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