#Normandy In light of recent events, the future of tourism at Pointe du Hoc seems more and more uncertain. Some projects were announced by the ABMC, with heavy consequences for visitors and tour guides. A small thread 🧵
Over the past few years, several parts of the cliffs have collapsed. The last one this March being just a few meters away from the visitors path !
Because of this, the path is now partly closed. This is the first time since 2011 that one part of the site is closed due to erosion.
Picture from Tough Ombre Stories on Facebook
The ABMC had already fenced off the majority of the site early 2020 to preserve it from human erosion, with 1 million visitors yearly.
So, what is next ? According to the ABMC, here are some of the changes that are going to occur rather quickly:
- platforms above Rudder PC and Gun Position 4 are going to be removed
- a new higher observation platform will be build behind the site where vegetation stands now
- the Rangers monument is going to be moved ! Yeah, that's right. It is too dangerous to leave it on the OP. It is going to be moved to a new commemoration square, yet to be created.
- the Bronze plaque dedicated to the Rangers inside the OP will be moved too.
This lead me to think that in a near future, the access to the OP will be closed, both inside and around it. This is maybe the last year to visit the inside of the bunker.
With the same idea, it is pretty safe to say that the access to Rudder's PC bunker will also be prevented. This will re-design completely the visitor path, something the ABMC already planned.
These are going to be dramatic changes. But the battle again the erosion cannot be won. Ours jobs as tour-guide will become increasingly important as the access to the battlefields will be greatly reduced, and the site itself is slowly disappearing. End
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