The Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument
The Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument is a granite pylon shaped like a dagger, set on top of the German fire-control bunker at the edge of the 100-foot cliff between Utah and Omaha beaches. France erected it in 1960 to honor the 2nd Ranger Battalion, which scaled the cliffs under fire on the morning of June 6, 1944, and the American Battle Monuments Commission has maintained the site since 1979.
The short version
- The Ranger Monument is a granite dagger set on the German fire-control bunker at the cliff edge, erected by France in 1960 and maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission since 1979.
- Entry is free and the site opens 9:00 to 17:00 daily, with the ABMC restoration running to mid-2027.
- During the work the visitor center is closed and access runs along the west pathway, with limited temporary parking; check abmc.gov before you go.
- Pointe du Hoc is on every one of our D-Day days; the Normandy D-Day Tour reaches it before lunch, after Utah and Omaha.
- The Caen Memorial D-Day Tour visits the cliff in the afternoon, after a morning at the museum in Caen.
Visiting the Monument
Entry to Pointe du Hoc is free and the site opens daily. The monument stands at the cliff edge at the end of the walking path, past the bomb craters and ruined casemates left as they were in 1944. Through mid-2027, an 18-month ABMC restoration keeps access along the west pathway only, with parts of the site, including some pathways and bunkers, closed while the work runs; check abmc.gov for what is reachable in the week you visit. The cliff wind is constant; hold onto hats and children at the overlooks.
The full story of the assault, the site, and the current restoration is on our main Pointe du Hoc page.
Getting There
Pointe du Hoc sits between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, about 30 minutes from Bayeux; during the restoration the visitor center is closed and parking is limited. Give the site a full hour rather than a drive-by stop; the walk to the cliff and back takes time. The LinkParis.com Caen Memorial D-Day tour visits Pointe du Hoc in the afternoon, after a morning at the museum in Caen.
The Monument Itself
The pylon is a single granite blade set on the roof of the German fire-control bunker, the position that directed the battery’s guns, with inscriptions in French and English. France raised it in 1960 and handed the site to the American Battle Monuments Commission in 1979; on June 6, 1984, President Reagan gave the fortieth-anniversary speech here, with the surviving Rangers in the front rows.
The guns the Rangers climbed for were not in the casemates on June 6. The battery had been moved inland before the landings, and a patrol found five of the guns in an orchard that morning and disabled them with thermite grenades. The craters between the car park and the monument are from the naval and air bombardment that preceded the assault.
During the restoration the monument is reached along the west pathway; give the walk out and back a full hour, and stay behind the barriers at the cliff edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument?
A granite pylon on the German fire-control bunker at the cliff edge of Pointe du Hoc, honoring the 2nd Ranger Battalion’s assault of June 6, 1944. France erected it in 1960, and the American Battle Monuments Commission maintains it.
Does it cost anything to visit Pointe du Hoc?
No. The site and the monument are free and open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Can you reach the monument during the restoration?
Yes. The site stays open through the ABMC restoration running to mid-2027, with access along the west pathway only; parts of the site, including some pathways and bunkers, are closed, so check abmc.gov for what is reachable in the week you visit.
Our Most Popular Trips From Paris
Guided tour of the Caen Memorial museum plus the D-Day beaches. Lunch included.
See the D-Day beaches and Mont Saint Michel. Overnight in charming Bayeux.
Your own expert driver-guide for the entire day. Flexible routing for up to 6 people.
