D-Day Museums

Ditto Ed and Mona. My favourites by many a country mile. The museum by the Mulberry Harbour had the best model of a battlefield and how to get around the defences that I have ever seen. To warm up for the heart wrenching you will experience go to the small but exquisitely kept British Cemetery in Bayeux.

1. Bayeux 2. Sainte Mere Eglise (only if you have interest in airborne) 3. Caen (if you have time to kill) Bayeux is the best by far sez my buddy who is the former director of the Marine Corps Museum. There's a heck of a lot more to Lower Normandy than the WWII stuff - - you might want to diversify a bit if you have four days.

Thank you for your quick response. We plan on doing two and a half days of WWII stuff. We have a Band of Brothers tour scheduled with Paul Woodadge and a day and a half on our own. The half day will be at the American and German Cemetery. We also want to see the Normandy countryside. So much to do, see much to see. Thanks for the Bayeux museum recommendation.

One of my favorite museums in this area is the Musée du débarquement in Arromanches. We have been to this museum 3 times. It is so powerful to be standing inside this museum looking at the displays and dioramas and see the pieces of the artificial harbor that are still in place offshore. The short movie is not to be missed also. On our second time at this museum we were listening to the guide tell about the building of the artificial harbor when another guide came up to me and quietly said "one of them is here, one of them is here". Her voice was trembling and she had tears in her eyes. Since this was about 2 months after September 11, 2001 I was a little bit afraid and started looking around. Then I noticed an elderly US veteran, with his wife and son, being helped getting out of a car in front of the museum. Everyone in the museum stood reverently while he came in. The young French staff at the museum were visibly moved. Even without this experience, this is one of the most interesting and powerful museums in the D-Day landing area.

Agree with Ed... we thought the WWII museum in Bayeux was by far the best one.

Thank you Ed, Mona and Susan. Two votes for the museum in Bayeux. Sounds like we will be visiting too. That was a lovely story Mona. I wonder what the veteran thought returning to Normandy after so many years. My husband is a retired Vietnam Vet. There is a special bond that soldiers have with their comrades. They never forget. They are always grateful and respectful to those who wore and wear the uniform.

Doing research for trip next year and this information is most valuable. Thanks all.

1) Musee Memorial de la Batille de Normandie in Bayeux. 2) Musee Airborne at St Mere Eglise. BE SURE to also go to the British War Cemetery that's kitty-corner from the museum in Bayeux. Bring your hankies. Kathy and Herb, Welcome to the Helpline!

Also enjoyed the Bayeux museum. But I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Caen museum. Spent an entire day there and didn't make it to the Cold War exhibit. The museum also offers packages including museum entrance, beaches tour and accommodations.
I'm also going to go ahead and mention the Juno Beach memorial.

We didn't care for the Caen Museum. It was very expensive, extremely crowded, confusing and disorganized imo. There was no one to ask questions of, so we had to wait in the long ticket line and when we finally were able to speak to someone (I speak French so language wasn't a problem), she was useless. It was a frustrating experience for us. If someone only has time for one, the Bayeux Museum is the one I would recommend.

@James, You're now back on this side of the pond? Welcome back! It's going to take me awhile to get used to the change in your profile. I imagine you're going through some "culture shock". Kathy, I agree with the others that the Bayeux Museum is well worth seeing (especially as you'll be there anyway). Be sure to also see the famous Bayeux Tapestry, which describes a much earlier battle. With four days in that area, I would highly recommend spending one day on one of the excellent D-Day tours. They know all the significant locations, and cover them efficiently. IMO, the cost is well worth it! Some of the tours will cover St. Mere Eglise and the American Cemetery above Omaha Beach, so you won't have to visit those separately. If you need names of tour firms, post another note. As you'll be staying in Bayeux, you may also want to visit the Gun Batteries at Longues sur Mer, which are about a 15-20 minute drive from Bayeux. I'm not sure if there's local transport as I had a rental car. Your Hotel will have good information on the transportation options. I agree with a previous suggestion that the Museum at Pegasus Bridge is also a good one to visit. The original bridge is still there, but now located on the grounds of the Museum. It's been replaced by a slightly larger version of the same design. As I recall, the Museum closes for a "siesta" in the afternoon, so be sure to allow for that. While there, be sure to have a look at the monuments which mark the landing place of the first three Gliders. They came incredibly close to the bridge, despite that fact they were landing at night. There's LOTS to see in that area! Happy travels!

Kathy, Since you'll be in Bayeux for 4 days, then I say absolutely do not miss the D-Day Museum. I liked both museums, recommend both of them, that in Caen as well as that in Bayeux. True, the Caen museum is expensive,... I spent the entire afternoon there. It's a museum to go through slowly. If you want information/historical overload, then definitely see the Caen Museum. But if you're less acquainted with the history of the period, I would say that the Bayeux museum is more concise, easier to follow.

Utah Beach Museum, the Bayeux WWII Museum, the American Cemetery Visitor Center get our recommendation. Plus the German Cemetery if you have time. For a break from D-Day and WWII, consider a drive around Creully. The TI there will give you a good map to locate historical sites in the area's tiny villages.

Utah Beach Museum, the Bayeux WWII Museum, the American Cemetery Visitor Center get our recommendation. Plus the German Cemetery if you have time. For a break from D-Day and WWII, consider a drive around Creully. The TI there will give you a good map to locate historical sites in the area's tiny villages.

To add our two cents from our one day visit last year. Museum at American Cemetery was excellent, as was Pegasus Bridge. Had read the book about the landing there, so was particularly impressed to be there. Did not hit the big museums due to time constraints. Rick's one day tour really hit all the high points and is a real winner, if you have a car.

Thank you for sharing your travel experences with me. The planning, reading, online discoveries are helping me prepare for what is to come. I am sure that what I am seeing in my mind does not compare to seeing it in person. Look out France, because here we come.