The 10 Best Museums in Normandy, France

July 30, 2021 Karren Gelb

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. Pegasus Memorial

avenue Major John Howard, 14860 Ranville France +33 2 31 78 19 44 [email protected] https://musee.memorial-pegasus.com/fr/
Excellent
79%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,052 reviews

Pegasus Memorial

A memorial to the first British soldiers to arrive in Normandy who captured the Pegasus Bridge from the Nazis.

Reviewed By lizanneSurrey - Woking, United Kingdom

This is an excellent museum with many artifacts from the D Day landings, with poignant reminders of sacrifices made both local people & troops. There is a large illuminated model of the area highlighted during an introductory talk prior to a film of the assault. It warrents more than one visit in order to take everything in. Very thought provoking.

2. Musee des Pecheries

3 quai du Capitaine Jean Recher, 76400 Fecamp France +33 2 35 28 31 99 [email protected] https://www.seine-maritime-tourisme.com/diffusio/en/i-choose/an-attraction/museums/fecamp/fisheries-museum_TFOPCUNOR076V50YM1C.php
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 247 reviews

Musee des Pecheries

Le Musée des Pêcheries de Fécamp a ouvert ses portes en 2017 dans une ancienne sécherie de morues, au cœur du port de Fécamp. Il regroupe des collections liées au passé maritime de la ville, ancienne capitale des Terre-Neuvas, mais aussi des collections historiques et de Beaux-Arts.

Reviewed By Palaemonette - Nancy, France

A great museum, you've GOT to visit if you're in the region! It gives you a very detailed description of the life the fisher-folk who belonged to the region led. It makes you grateful for everything you have and respect nature for what she truly is!

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
2%
Terrible
2%
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. Fondation Claude Monet

84 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny France +33 2 32 51 28 21 [email protected] https://fondation-monet.com/en/
Excellent
73%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 7,893 reviews

Fondation Claude Monet

These beautiful gardens inspired Impressionist Claude Monet's most famous work.

Reviewed By 709nitak

Excellent place to visit, we are so lucky this is available for us to visit looks spectacular, did a tour on bus was great double decker air conditioned coach with informative narrative on history and life of Claude Monet. Loved this even my husband and 21 yr old son who are not garden lovers loved this trip. Well worth a visit will not be disappointed.

5. Musee des Beaux-Arts de Rouen

Esplanade Marcel Duchamp, 76000, Rouen France +33 2 35 71 28 40 [email protected] http://mbarouen.fr/fr
Excellent
52%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 976 reviews

Musee des Beaux-Arts de Rouen

Reviewed By Bubbles73uk - Weedon Bec, United Kingdom

The Musee des Beaux-Arts at Rouen is one of the best provincial museums in France, so if you are in Rouen on a rainy day like I was (or even if it isn't raining!), I highly recommend setting aside a couple of hours for a visit. The Cathedral Notre-Dame in Rouen was a recurring subject for Monet when he lived in nearby Giverny, and this excellent museum displays one of these canvases, along with works by Gericault, Boudin, Sisley, Renoir, Caillebot, Delecroix and many others. The paintings collection is especially strong, but there are also many fine sculptures and objets d'art. The whole museum has a very modern and professional air. And it's free! Unbelievable for a museum of this quality.

6. 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.

7. Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux

13 rue de Nesmond Centre Guillaume le Conquerant, 14401, Bayeux France +33 2 31 51 25 50 [email protected] http://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/la_tapisserie_de_bayeux.html
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 8,062 reviews

Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux

This museum houses the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a 70-m long piece of embroidery that graphically tells the story of the 1066 Battle of Hastings.Listed UNESCO Memory of the World. Duration of visit about 1h30. Annual closure in January

Reviewed By joand143 - London, United Kingdom

Incredible visit Brings to life this amazing tapestry and the history behind it Beautifully presented and explained

8. Juno Beach Centre

Voie des Francais Libres, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer France +33 2 31 37 32 17 [email protected] http://www.junobeach.org/
Excellent
65%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,234 reviews

Juno Beach Centre

Canadian World War II memorial museum features interactive animations and a dramatic eight-foot bronze sculpture entitled "Remembrance and Renewal."

Reviewed By Calgarytraveller2 - Calgary, Canada

Being Canadian, we enjoyed getting the Canadian perspective (we stopped first at the war museum in Bayeux to get the big picture of all the Allied forces on D-Day). The displays were interesting, we really enjoyed the film as well as the underground tour of the tunnels and rooms. We also spent quite a bit of time out on the beach. The nearby Canadian war cemetery is also worth a stop. Very humbling and moving experience overall to think of the sacrifice they made for us. We will remember.

9. Musee Baron Gerard

37 rue du Bienvenu, 14400, Bayeux France +33 2 31 92 14 21 http://www.bayeuxmuseum.com
Excellent
64%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 316 reviews

Musee Baron Gerard

In the heart of the Episcopal palace of Bayeux, the MAHB reopened in 2013, provides a journey through history of art in Europe, from Archeology to Modern Art.-600 pieces of art with Impressionnist masterpiece of Gustave Caillebotte and Eugene Boudin-1000 pieces of Bayeux porcelain and lace-800 archeological and ethnographic pieces

10. Musee d’art Moderne Andre Malraux - MuMa

2 boulevard Clemenceau, 76600, Le Havre France +33 2 35 19 62 62 http://www.muma-lehavre.fr
Excellent
58%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 911 reviews

Musee d’art Moderne Andre Malraux - MuMa

The first thing you notice about the Musée d'art moderne André Malraux-MuMa Le Havre is its breathtaking coastal setting. As you approach the spacious, light-filled museum building, Henri-Georges Adam's monumental concrete sculpture The Signal heightens the experience, framing a slice of the maritime landscape that inspired many of the works in the museum's collections. Le Havre has nurtured artists like Monet, Dubuffet, Friesz, Dufy and Braque. And MuMa is a pillar of the city's art history. Inaugurated in 1961 by André Malraux, then France's Minister of Cultural Affairs, MuMa is known for its late-19th and 20th-century collections. From the Impressionists to the Fauves, the museum's collections have been enriched by gifts such as works from the studio of Eugène Boudin and the Marande donation. More recently, Hélène Senn-Foulds donated an impressive collection built up by her grandfather, Olivier Senn, in the early 20th century. Thanks to the donation, MuMa's collection of Impressionist works is today one of France's largest, and the public can now enjoy works by Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Degas, Courbet and Corot.

Reviewed By Kris1230 - West Chester, United States

The first thing you notice about MuMa Le Havre is its breathtaking coastal setting. As you approach the spacious, light-filled museum building, Henri-Georges Adam’s monumental concrete sculpture The Signal heightens the experience, framing a slice of the maritime landscape that inspired many of the works in the museum’s collections.Le Havre has nurtured artists like Monet, Dubuffet, Friesz, Dufy and Braque. And MuMa is a pillar of the city's art history. Inaugurated in 1961 by André Malraux, then France's Minister of Cultural Affairs, MuMa is known for its late-19th and 20th-century collections. From the Impressionists to the Fauves, the museum's collections have been enriched by gifts such as works from the studio of Eugène Boudin and the Marande donation. More recently, Hélène Senn-Foulds donated an impressive collection built up by her grandfather, Olivier Senn, in the early 20th century. Thanks to the donation, MuMa's collection of Impressionist works is today one of France's largest, and the public can now enjoy works by Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Degas, Courbet and Corot. It is well worth a visit when in Le Havre

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