Normandy museums

I'd recommend any or all of these, depending on how much time you are willing to devote to WW II museums. All have a lot of material you will not see in St-Mere Eglise.

• Caen Memorial. By far the largest. I'm slow in museums, usually reading all the material posted in English. 6-1/2 hours didn't quite allow me to see everything. Probably most visitors spend about half that long. There's a newish section on the Cold War that you could skip if you're only interested in WW II.

• Bayeux Museum of the Battle of Normandy. This was a 3 to 3-1/2 hour sight for me, and I was trying to hurry.

• Memorial des Civils dans La Guerre in Falaise. This museum focuses on civilian life during the war, including the resistance movement and collaborators. 3 to 3-1/2 hours for me. This would be at least a 1-hour drive from Bayeux, and there's not a lot of other stuff to do in Falaise, which was hit hard during the invasion. But I appreciated the different content in this museum.

While in Caen, the fortress castle of William the Conquerer is in the centre of the city and certainly worth a look-around.

We like the WWII museum in Bayeux the best. It's wonderful. Not overwhelming, not crowded, not expensive.
We did not like the Caen museum. Overwhelming, confusing, jam packed crowded and expensive.

Normally I agree with Susan about everything, and I confess that I haven't been to the Bayeux museum, but I have to spring to the defense of the Memorial de Caen. Yes it's big and expensive (not crowded on our September visit), but for a comprehensive understanding of the war, what led to it, and what happened, it was superb. Like acraven, I tend to read all the labels (my wife sits patiently people-watching near the gift shop), so like him I spent about half a day there. A peak experience (if that's the word) was listening to a recording of the conversation between two French generals about the need for "armistice" with (read surrender to) Germany, and where they would be going afterward.

I understand that the Bayeux war museum is also very good, no disrespect intended, and focused more on the events in Normandy. Given that you're based there (the right choice I think), you might prefer it for logistical reasons. And I hope you'll allow time for the Bayeux Cathedral and nearby Tapestry.

I don't remember having trouble getting right up to the posted explanatory material at either the Caen or the Bayeux museum, which is the point at which crowding would bother me in a museum like that. I visited both museums on weekdays; I imagine they are more crowded on weekends. It's true that the Caen museum is quite large for a single-subject historical museum.

When we were at the Caen museum we were packed in like sardines. Like Disneyland on the most crowded day of the year. It really ruined it for us. That, on top of confusing and expensive made me really dislike it.
If I were there and it was not at all crowded, and I had a full day to absorb it all, I might like it better.
But there is such a thing as too much information and that, along with everything else I've mentioned when we were there, made me dislike it.

Since you are already in the Western sector of the d-day area, I highly recommend the Utah Beach Museum (http://www.utah-beach.com/museum/?lang=en). It is right on the beach in an area that hasn't been built up since the war, and is very comprehensive as to the events in the American Sector. Of course, the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église is great too. The newer Overlord Museum (http://www.overlordmuseum.com/en/) near the American Cemetery is also nice, and I concur on the recommendations for the Bayeux Museum.

My experience in the Caen Museum was similar to Susan's. I was there on a weekday in May along with a bunch of school groups from various countries doing Field trips. Their ages seemed to range from about 6 to hormone-raging teens. It was hot, crowded and loud inside. I would much rather have spent more time at the actual sights. The best part to me was the HQ bunker in the lower level accessed from outside.

I did go in the small, old fashioned Musee de Debarquement at Arromanches which I did enjoy. There again there were several school groups but they were much better supervised and behaved. There were also some outdoor exhibits I did not get to. Inside they have both the real Rupert dummy and the Rupert dummy used in The Longest Day.

I would say go to outdoor sites over museums if you can. I was on a tour and the tour guide worked in a quick stop at Pegasus Bridge which I found amazing as well as the defenses at Longue-sur-mer just west of the remains of the Mulberry Harbor at Gold Beach/Arromanches. (Supposed to be the location of the scene in the film where Major Pluskat is looking out of the bunker at the line of ships on the horizon and screaming about 5,000 ships heading his way..but I think that was really further down the beach.)

Definitely the Bayeaux Tapestry. We spent an entire day at the Caen Memorial (April) -- thought it was great.

The Bayeux Tapestry. It's different history than D-day.

Thanks to all who offered suggestions. It has really helped in our planning.

Both the Caen Museum and Bayeux Museum are good. I liked them both, have been to the Bayeux Museum twice, once to Caen. The Caen Museum is good if you know the history well and you want information overload. If not, I can see that it is too much to absorb. The Bayeux Museum is more concise, organised differently as respects to its sources. It has been several years since I was at the Caen Museum, then I thought the price expensive but it is a two day ticket. I should go back to the Caen Museum.

Thanks for the info on Falaise, another place to go. The Falaise Pocket was the death knell of the German Army in France.

The Falaise museum is well-done, Fred, but just be aware that there is little military history covered (if you don't count information about the Resistance, which as I recall is rather extensive).

Fred, our expensive Caen museum ticket was for one day only and I know the history very well. As you said, it was overload... and chaotically presented imo when we were there.

It would be great to always visit a museum when it is not crowded but that is not always possible and certainly not a reason to skip one. Just go with the knowledge that it will be crowded and allow plenty of time to fully experience it. It boils down to your attitude & expectations. I did not think the Euro 19,80 was expensive for such a comprehensive museum even for 1 day - again it depends on your perspective.

I think the Caen museum is exactly what some people are looking for and exactly not what others are looking for.
I think the more information, the more opinions a person reads before going helps them decide what is right for them.

I do recommend both museums. Ideally, if one has the time, see both museums. If one wants information overload and overkill, knowing the history well or not, then I recommend the Caen Museum.