If you're in France, visit the Mémorial de Caen, a museum dedicated to the Second World War, the Landing of Normandy on D-Day and the Cold War! It's an essential place to visit to learn all about 20th-century history!
Why Visit Mémorial de Caen?
Located very close to the famous beaches of the Normandy Landings, the Mémorial de Caen is a famous museum dedicated to the Second World War, D-Day and the Cold War.
In the rooms dedicated to the Second World War, you'll see original objects from the time, such as vehicles, weapons, uniforms, propaganda posters, photographs, maps and other important pieces. The section about the genocides and mass violence is especially well-known, as is the space dedicated to the Resistance and Liberation.
You also can't miss the D-Day exhibition, a key date on which the Normandy Beach Landings took place. That day, the 6th of June 1944, was a landmark event during the Second World War. You'll also learn various details about the coastlines and how they gave way to this success, among these beaches are Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Sword Beach, Gold Beach and Juno Beach.
Other must-see places in the museum include General Wilhelm Richter's underground bunker and the exhibition dedicated to the confrontation between the Eastern and Western Blocs during the Cold War. It's also worth visiting the 20th-century immersive room.
In this last room, you'll enjoy a 19-minute film in a 360-degree room with 11 screens, and you'll discover the history of Europe from 1900 to 1991. Without a doubt, another must-see room to recount the Old Continent and learn about past mistakes committed in different periods.
Opening Times
The Mémorial de Caen museum opening times are as follows:
- January 2 to 3: every day from 9 am to 6 pm
- January 26 to March 31: every day from 9 am to 6 pm
- April 1 to September 30: every day from 9 am to 7 pm
- October 1 to 15: every day from 9:30 am to 6 pm
- October 16 to 31: every day from 9 am to 6 pm
- November 1 to December 31: every day from 9:30 am to 6 pm
Please note that the museum closes on the following days
- November 3, 10, 17 and 24
- December 1, 8 and 15
- December 25 and January 1
