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Top 9 Military Museums in Calvados, Normandy
Discover the best top things to do in Calvados, France including Memorial de Caen, Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie, Batterie Allemande de Longues-Sure-Mer, Musee de la Batterie de Merville, Musee D-Day Omaha, Overlord Museum - Omaha Beach, Normandy Visitors Center, Musee de la radio BBC de Creuly, Conducteur Officiel.
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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. Musee Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,825 reviews
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.
3. Batterie Allemande de Longues-Sure-Mer
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,140 reviews
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.
4. Musee de la Batterie de Merville
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 767 reviews
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.
5. Musee D-Day Omaha
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 287 reviews
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.
6. Overlord Museum - Omaha Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,183 reviews
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.
7. Normandy Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 176 reviews
Reviewed By DeborahG180 - Greenville, United States
What an incredible experience this visitors center is...just absolutely beautiful and educational.....well thought out, landscaped and presented to the memory of so many who lost their lives...we were there on a gorgeous July afternoon and the grasses were blowing in the breeze and if you I not know what had transpired years ago one would think were just walking up to any helpful visitors center but one beyond the building you get a glimpse of the ocean....so powerful to see such calm and how such violence and bloodshed had occurred and lives lost.years ago on those beaches...very sobering to see in person what one has read about or seen on the news.
8. Musee de la radio BBC de Creuly
9. Conducteur Officiel
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