City: France
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10 History Museums in France That You Shouldn't Miss
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1. Memorial de Caen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,519 reviews
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!
2. 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 876 reviews
Come and discover the exciting story of the 24 Heures du Mans and the legendary heroes. Through 120 vehicles, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest tells you the epic of the automobile in the Sarthe and the success of its international event. Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Ford, Porsche, Matra, Audi ... all the big names are represented by their mythical models that immerse the visitor in the world's greatest endurance race. 300m² of temporary exhibitions complete this themed route, which can be continued by visiting the famous 24 Heures du Mans circuit.
Reviewed By Alexve1 - Redruth, United Kingdom
Called in on a European bike trip, well worth a visit if you are a petrol head, would definitely go again
3. Musee Renoir
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 577 reviews
Reviewed By patriciabF7808VC - Orte, Italy
If you are an admirer of Renoir or just an art lover, it is fascinating to visit this house situated in a lovely garden overlooking Cagnes sur Mer. Fascinating to see what this great painter surrounded himself with and to see what he painted - because he painted what he saw. A wonderful opportunity to explore further his life and his work. I really enjoyed this visit.
4. Musee Unterlinden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,605 reviews
Vast collection of paintings and sculptures features the Retable d'Issenheim (Issenheim Altarpiece,) considered to be the most important piece of art in the museum.
Reviewed By 922sirins - Kyrenia, Cyprus
It was used as a Monastery in 13AD when constructed. Later on in 19AD turned into a Museum as a Romanesque -Gothic syle. Nowadays you can see the paintings remaining from Medieval time. Artists such as Monet, Dubuffet and picasso paintings are also exhebited. Intereting place to see.
5. Musee Toulouse-Lautrec
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,259 reviews
Reviewed By Henri_Hunter - Harrogate, United Kingdom
Home of a young Toulouse Lautrec it is a beautiful building with a great collection of his art. There are also items of local history and a beautiful garden with views over the river.
6. Le Chateau du Clos Luce - Parc Leonardo da Vinci
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,037 reviews
At the invitation of Francis I, Leonardo da Vinci came to live at the Château du Clos Lucé and stayed here for the last three years of his life, devoting himself to perfecting his inventions. Leonardo was prolific and inspired, working as an engineer, architect and theatrical director, organising lavish festivities for the Court. At his residence 300 metres from the Château Royal, he drew up plans for a model château for Francis I in Romorantin and designed the double-helix open staircase in the Château de Chambord.The Château du Clos Lucé is dedicated to showing and explaining to the public the great knowledge acquired by the Italian Maestro.
Reviewed By 76marab - Green Mountain, United States
This wonderful look at the life and accomplishments of Leonardo Da Vinci as seen through a day in the life at his home (for the last three years of his life) Clos du Lucé is so lifelike it feels like he might be back for lunch. Period music is playing, his writing, experiments and painting supplies are all strewn about and admits to it all are little vignettes telling you more about his inventions and life. Many miniature models exists of his prototypes and as an added bonus, there are animated videos showing via computer graphics how some of the larger scale ones would have or did work. Life size models on campus as well. Great fun for all ages. Restaurant and gif5 shop on site at this park like setting.
7. Musee Departemental Arles Antique
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,590 reviews
Reviewed By Razorfish - Little Rock, United States
My wife and I visited the Musee Departemental Arles Antique during our two day trip to Arles this past March. It is a wonderful museum with a large number of archeological pieces (statues, sarcophagi, base reliefs, mosaics, etc.). The best feature is the Roman barge that was dug out of the Rhône River and the video of its restoration. It is well worth spending 2 or 3 hours in to gain a better understanding of historic Arles.
8. Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,062 reviews
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
9. Musee Dauphinois
10. Musee Lurcat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 309 reviews
Reviewed By AlbertSalichs - Manresa, Spain
Museé Lurçat is a wonderful museum of tapestries located in Angers, a town in Loire Region, in the North part of France. The museum has only a big room, where there are a lot of fantastic Contemporanean tapestries. Really, they are different to classical ones. So, you can see great compositions in (almost) all of them. I walked around the room two times, really I was awesome and I do not like very much tapestries, I prefer other kinds of art. A top in the city! and probably a number one museum of tapestries manufactured in 20th Century!
