The 10 Best Military Museums in Normandy, France

September 6, 2021 Hector Krause

Normandy (/ˈnɔːrməndi/; French: Normandie, pronounced [nɔʁmɑ̃di] ( listen), Norman: Normaundie, from Old French Normanz, plural of Normant, originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is one of the 18 regions of France, roughly corresponding to the historical Duchy of Normandy.
Restaurants in Normandy

1. Musee De La Bataille De Tilly

18 rue du 18 Juin 1944 Chapelle Notre Dame Du Val, 14250 Tilly France +33 2 31 80 92 10 https://www.tilly1944.com/
Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Musee De La Bataille De Tilly

2. Marcouf 44

Route de Crisbecq, 50310 Saint-Marcouf France +33 6 82 01 49 08 [email protected] https://www.marcouf44.com/
Excellent
84%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
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5.0 based on 31 reviews

Marcouf 44

Command Post for Marcouf Battery New historical site on Landing beach Discover this historic site which inspired 2 world famous films, "The Longuest Day" and "Saving Private Ryan", as well as the Memorial opened on June 7, 2019 during the festivities of the 75 th anniversary of D. Day in memory of Preston NILAND killed on June 7, 44 during the attack on the Command Post, and whose story of the four brothers NILAND is at the origin of the film Unique for a bunker, you circulate in the heart of the largest bunker on Utah Beach restored in its original state, without any showcase or marked out course, you can touch the objects of collection of the 10 rooms distributed on 3 floors inside

3. Memorial de Caen

Esplanade General Eisenhower, 14050 Caen France +33 2 31 06 06 45 [email protected] http://www.memorial-caen.fr
Excellent
63%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4,519 reviews

Memorial de Caen

Located in the immediate vicinity of the D-Day Landing beaches, the Mémorial de Caen visitor centre is among the essential sites focusing on the Battle of Normandy and 20th century history. From the origins of the Second World War to the end of the Cold War, museographical displays tell this terrible side of 20th century history. Indeed, Caen, bombarded during the summer of 1944, a liberated yet martyred city, deserved a tribute well worthy of the suffering it endured. This is precisely the purpose of the Mémorial de Caen, but via a continuing perspective and action aimed at reconciliation.

Reviewed By nlansdell - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

This excellent museum charts the beginnings of, and causes behind, WW2 and the invasion of France - before detailing the events that led to its eventual liberation. It’s focus is on Normandy and Caen itself but it provides a good over view of the war in full and covers both the Pacific and African theatres. It also covers the holocaust. The material does not shy away from its subject and there are some graphic images of what took place and this includes film and pictures of dead combatants, hangings and executions - so please consider this if you are taking children. A film lasting 20 minutes brings everything together very well and I would recommend that not only that you do this at the end but that that you allow time for it. Your tickets last 24 hours so if you run out of time you can always pop back the next morning!

4. Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie

Boulevard Fabian Ware, 14400, Bayeux France +33 2 31 51 46 90 [email protected] http://www.normandie-tourisme.fr/pcu/musee-memorial-de-la-bataille-de-normandie/bayeux/fiche-PCUNOR014FS0008O-1.html
Excellent
53%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,825 reviews

Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie

Situated near the British Military Cemetery of Bayeux, the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy narrates the battles which took place in Normandy after the D-Day landings, between 7th June and 29th August 1944. The collections of military equipment, the diorama and the archival films allow the visitor to grasp the enormous effort made during this decisive battle in order to restore peace in Europe.

Reviewed By Christine9046

Great museum, so much to see! Tons of artillery equipment, vehicles, artifacts, just amazing! All original from stuff left after the war since it was too costly to ship them back. TIP: buy the 3 museum tour for 15 € to save money. All the museums are close-by so you can do all 3 in a day. They are Tapestry, Museum of the Battle of Normandy, and Baron Gerard Art & Art history. Remember, all museums close between 12pm-2pm for lunch so be sure to start when they open at 9am and plan ahead so you can visit all 3. They close at 6pm. Shops close at 7pm so shop before eating dinner.

5. D-Day Experience (Dead Man's Corner museum)

2 Village de l Amont, 50500 Saint-Come-du-Mont, Carentan-les-Marais France +33 2 33 23 61 95 [email protected] http://www.dday-experience.com
Excellent
65%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
4%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,185 reviews

D-Day Experience (Dead Man's Corner museum)

Discover D-Day Experience and its different areas made up of :  two museums,  an immersive and one of a kind attraction in the wolrd  a memorial dedicated to the airborne troops»  and a gift shop Set in the heart of a historical place, the site spans across 10,000 m2, thus inviting you to live an amazing experience that combines both educational and entertainment learning. Our site includes two museums dedicated to the airborne troops who fought during World War II, an airborne wall and two shops (militaria and gift shop). You can extend your visit with the historical route to retrace the steps of the men of the 101st division.

Reviewed By karinedY1590DD

Definitely a place to visit in Normandy! Great opportunity to salute and remember what 101st Airborne and the US Army did for us (I am French!), the flight simulator feels very realistic, the collection inside the museum is a very comprehensive one, with a very touching account of the stories of the jackets and other artifacts belonging to the guys, the medical equipment they used on the wounded, the planers, etc... I could go on for a while here! Dead's Man Corner is also very detailed, giving one a good idea of what it was like in the German camp.

6. Musee du Debarquement Utah Beach

Plage de la Madeleine Utah Beach, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont France +33 2 33 71 53 35 [email protected] http://www.utah-beach.com/
Excellent
70%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,647 reviews

Musee du Debarquement Utah Beach

Located in the Parc Naturel Régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin, the "Madeleine" beach went into history a Tuesday of June 1944. 75 years after, the Utah Beach Landing Museum invites you to walk along paths of our liberators.

Reviewed By DiggoryLondon

Probably the most impressive museum we visited during our tour of the five D Day beaches. From the museum it is only a 100 yard walk to the beach. Once again if you stand and overlook the beach you realise just how exposed the attacking force was especially with regard to cover from the terrain. There are plenty of monuments and viewing points to enable you to see the whole of the beach area. The museum was very impressive the presentation was excellent and it provided a great deal of information to support the exhibits. There is a completed B26 Marauder that l have never seen before which enhanced the visit. Entrance fee 8 Euros very reasonable. Would definitely return again.

7. Batterie Allemande de Longues-Sure-Mer

West of Arromanches-les-Bains, Longues-sur-Mer France +33 2 31 21 46 87 http://bayeux-bessin-tourisme.com/blog/visiteguidee/batterie-de-longues-sur-mer
Excellent
58%
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Satisfactory
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4.5 based on 1,140 reviews

Batterie Allemande de Longues-Sure-Mer

Reviewed By MichaelMc777 - Sunnyvale, United States

The gun batteries are in relatively good condition. You can enter into the bunker and gain an interesting perspective from behind the canons. There is also a forward bunker you can visit and enter. I found it to be a somber and fascinating visit. I walked/visited it alone and preferred taking my time at each site. Tours add to historical knowledge and take away from the experience.

8. Musee de la Batterie de Merville

Place du 9eme Bataillon, 14810 Merville-Franceville-Plage France +33 2 31 91 47 53 [email protected] http://www.batterie-merville.com
Excellent
57%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 767 reviews

Musee de la Batterie de Merville

Reviewed By mcburgess2001 - Wimbish, United Kingdom

I visited the Merville Battery with 27 work colleagues as part of a battlefield study. I had visited several years earlier but was extremely impressed with the new additions and update. The DC10 addition adds a new dimension and the photos of the crew on its reveal was quite moving. The film footage within the bunker was extremely poignant and again added to the whole experience. What a feat of heroism in its day.

9. Musee D-Day Omaha

Route de Grandcamp, 14710 Vierville-sur-Mer France +33 2 31 21 71 80 [email protected] http://dday-omaha.fr
Excellent
60%
Good
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Satisfactory
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Poor
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Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 287 reviews

Musee D-Day Omaha

Thousands of original pieces displayed on more than 3,000 m2 in the heart of Omaha Beach in an authentic building of American era. Located between the American cemetery and the point of the Hoc, this museum presents a unique collection, gathered for nearly fifty years by a passionate father, now gone, leaving to his two sons the duty to perpetuate this work of memory.

Reviewed By ausdemsee - Berlin, Germany

This museum is a little stop by must see. Usually not crowded and easily recognizable with the military machines stationed out front. The inside of the museum is packed with displays and finds from the Dday beaches. Incredibly it was all mostly found by one guy. Really cool place to stop on your way to or from the D-Day beaches, they show the equipment in a way in which it would have been used.

10. Overlord Museum - Omaha Beach

Rond-Point D'acces du Cimetiere Americain, Lotissement Omaha Center Rond-point d'accès du Cimetière Américain - Lotissement Omaha Center, 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer France +33 2 31 22 00 55 [email protected] http://www.overlordmuseum.com/en
Excellent
54%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,183 reviews

Overlord Museum - Omaha Beach

Reviewed By jopla - Herent, Belgium

What makes this museum great is that they have an amazing collection of vehicles and all sorts of items and they have created interesting scenes. My children could better understand/interpret what they were seeing.

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