D-day Museum : World War II memorials in Normandy

There are dozens of museums that cover the Allied forces landings in Normandy. Whether old or new, they cover the history of Operation Overlord from difference points of view. If you can visit only one D-Day Museum during your tour in Normandy, it will be one of theses memorials.

The Arromanches Museum

Ten years after the Allied forces landed, an exhibition was set up in Arromanches, and inaugurated by President of the French Republic, René Coty. It’s the first D-Day museum that recounts June 6, 1944, with the objective of commemorating the Battle at Normandy.

Address: Place du Six Juin 1944, 14117 Arromanches-les-Bains

The Overlord Museum

The Overlord Museum bears the name of Operation Overlode, or the code name for the Battle of Normandy, whose mission was to land on the coast of Normandy, at various points, and progressively head inland to liberate France. This D-Day museum is particularly impressive with its full-scale reenactments of the armies who fought on the battlefield.

Address: Lotissement Omaha Center, 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer

The Omaha Beach Memorial Museum

Omaha Beach is one of the beaches on which American, Canadian, English and French troops landed on June 6, 1944. It’s on this beach in particular that there were the largest number of casualties. Visit the Omaha Beach Memorial Museum to discover how disembarkment played out on Omaha Beach.

Address: Avenue de la Libération 14710, Saint-Laurent-sur-mer

The Omaha D-day Museum

This D-Day museum houses an important collection of WWII and Battle at Normandy objects and memorabilia. Just like the Memorial Museum, this one is located not far from the American cemetery and Hoc Point. Its permanent exhibition is very interesting as it deals with the consequences of these conflicts on the civil population.

Address: Route de Grancamp 14710, Vierville-sur-Mer

The Museum of Underwater Wreckage

What made the Allied landings special was its amphibious nature. Land troops arrived via specialized boats. Unfortunately, because some of these boats didn’t make it to the coast on time, artillery and engines (such as tanks) became wreckage without ever having served on the battlefield. The D-Day museum of Underwater Wreckage displays such artifacts.

Address: Route de Bayeux 14520, Commes – Port-en-Bessin

The Caen Memorial : a must-see D-Day Museum

The D-Day museum at the Caen Memorial is dedicated to the Normandy landings and to the Battle at Normandy, but also houses a sizable exhibition that deals with France’s position during WWII. Educational activities organized for school groups as well as temporary exhibitions and occasional events are also planned.

Address: Esplanade Général Eisenhower 14050, Caen

The Number 4 Commando Museum

Located in the Ouistreham commune where Allied forces landed at Sword Beach, this D-Day museum deals with landings in the regions of Calvados and Cotentin and, above all, the destiny of the 177 French Navy gunfighters who, integrated into British troops, were the only representatives of the French population to take part in Operation Overlord.

Address: Place Alfred Thomas, 14150 Ouistreham

The Juno Beach Center

Inaugurated on June 6, 2003, the Juno Beach Center renders homage to the Canadian troops who participated in the WWII battles alongside the Allied forces.

Address: Voie des Français Libres, BP 104, 14470 Courseulles-sur-Mer

The America - Gold Beach Museum

Here exhibitions recount the landings of British forces on the Normandy beach of Ver-sur-Mer. It also tells the story of the American plane that in 1927 made a landing outside of the city to create the first airmail service between France and the USA.

Address: 2 Place Amiral Byrd, 14114 Ver-Sur-Mar