About this place
La Flamme is a memorial in Ouistreham dedicated to the French commandos who landed here on 6 June 1944. It stands on Boulevard Aristide Briand, a short walk from Sword Beach and the marina in the Riva-Bella district.
What does the monument show?
The centerpiece, created by artist Yvonne Guégan, sits on top of an armored turret of French origin — captured by German forces in 1940 from a Maginot Line fortification and later reused as part of the Atlantic Wall defenses at Ouistreham. Engraved on the metal flame are the names of the 177 French soldiers who took part in the landing operation on the morning of 6 June 1944. Around the base, ten small stone markers bear the names of commandos who fell between Colleville-Montgomery and Ouistreham.
Over time the memorial grew into a small ensemble of figures. In May 2014, a bronze statue of Lord Lovat, commander of the 1st Special Service Brigade, was unveiled beside the flame. In June 2019, on the 75th anniversary of the landings, a granite statue of Commander Philippe Kieffer joined it — Kieffer led the French commando unit, the only French force to take part directly in the Normandy beach assault.
How do you get there?
The memorial sits in the heart of Riva-Bella, Ouistreham's seaside district, right on Boulevard Aristide Briand. It's an easy stop on foot — just a few minutes from the seafront promenade and Sword Beach. Nearby, the Museum of the 4th Commando covers the history of the British and French commando units, making the area a natural stop for anyone tracing D-Day sites along this stretch of coast.
When should you visit?
The site is open year-round and can be visited at any time of day, as it's an open-air monument with no set hours. The most striking time to come, though, is 6 June — the anniversary of the Normandy landings. French veterans and official delegations gather here for a formal ceremony and roll call of the fallen, giving the site a very different atmosphere from an ordinary visit.
Why is La Flamme worth seeing?
It's one of the few memorials on the Normandy coast dedicated specifically to the French role in D-Day. While most nearby sites focus on the Allied forces, this one centers on the story of the French "green berets" who came back to fight for their own country's liberation. The combination of a captured German turret, French steel bearing soldiers' names, and the two commander statues packs an unusual amount of layered history into one small spot.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entry fee? No, the memorial stands in a public space and can be viewed free of charge at any time.
Who designed La Flamme? The sculpture was created by Yvonne Guégan. The ensemble was later completed with statues of Lord Lovat (2014) and Commander Kieffer (2019).
How long does a visit take? Viewing the monument itself takes just a few minutes, but it pairs well with a walk through Riva-Bella and a visit to the nearby Museum of the 4th Commando.
Can you walk there from the beach? Yes, the memorial is right next to the seafront promenade and Sword Beach, only a few minutes on foot.
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