Is a visit to the Caen museum worth it, Rick gives it 3 stars. My tentative schedule is to take the train from Paris to Caen, se the museum, pick up the rental car and proceed to Bayeux for 3 nights. I've hear a variety of opinions about the museum and wondered if we should skip it. That would mean we take the train to Bayeux, pick up the car on the second day of our visit since we won't need it the first day because of a tour we'll be one. PS: We will be taking a private tour of the Normandy sites and have another full day to see things on our own.
Advice?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
You know there's only one place to pick up a car in Bayeux and it's out on the northwest end of town, but the places in Caen are right by the station, right?? As far as the museums go, the last time I was up that way I was running with the former director of the Marine Corps Museum. He thought the one in Caen stank, but really liked the one in Bayeux. My wild guess is that Mr Steves doesn't know a lot about military stuff.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
386 posts
I can't weigh in on the Caen Museum, but as Ed's friend said, t think the Bayeux war museum is brilliant. There's also a lovely outdoor memorial nearby to journalists killed in wars that I recommend.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
We think the WWII museum in Bayeux is by far the best one of them all, and there are a lot, in Normandy. It is extremely well done, not overwhelming, not crowded and inexpensive. We did not like the Caen museum at all, thought it was the worst one of all. It is confusing, frustrating, extremely jam packed, and very expensive.
Posted by
San Francisco
14976 posts
Hi, On the two museums I would say if you have a time constaint then the Bayeux Museum is better, seemed better organised. If you know the literature on the topic, then Bayeux is more meaningful. It quotes, either from primary or secondary sources, those whose have written on D-Day and the Normandie campaigne...Ambrose, Keegan, Hastings, Wilmot, Eisenhower, DeGaulle, etc. On the other hand, the Caen Museum is good if you want information overkill and be swamped with a lot of history. It presupposes more I found that one has to be well acquainted with the details of the history leading to aggression and war in the interwar years. It's alot to cover, Bayeux is more compact. I liked both museums. Both are worth seeing. What I didn't like about Caen was the pricey admission. If you just have time for one, choose Bayeux.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
748 posts
I disagree - we toured both and I found the Museum at Caen very informative. The Caen Museum has multiple exhibits. We toured the one that was not focussed on D Day, but on the factors which were set in place in the Versaille treaty and the conditions in Europe that set the stage for WWII (first part) and then the conditions, the resistence and life in occupied France and just after the war. It was very illuminating. To sum, IMHO, if your interest is the DDay invasion and military stategy - the museum at Bayeaux is better. If you are less interested in the miliatry aspects but want a broader focus include Caen. Because you will be there 3 nights and have a private tour of the Normandy sites, I think you would enjoy the Caen museum and you have time for it. All four of us loved Normandy and Bayeaux ( aunt who had no interest in DDay, teenager who looked up from his Ipad, Dad -80 yr old whose dream was to see the Normandy beaches and me)
Diane