Museums

As with memorials, there are more museums in Normandy than any other battlefield in Europe – over 30 in all at the last count. They range greatly in size from the Musée de la Bataille de Normandie in Bayeux which will take over two hours to view properly to the small exhibition in the front room of the Café Gondrée at Pegasus Bridge. As the author expands his photographic tours of the Normandy invasion area more museums will appear in this section of the site.

Please follow website links for information on opening times and admission charges.

Pegasus Memorial
Avenue du Major Howard, 14860 Ranville
Tel : +33 (0)2 31 78 19 44
E-mail : info.pegasus@normandy1944.com
Website: http://www.normandy1944.com/index_content.php

Pegasus Memorial, Ranville. Photo: Mark Sluman.

Opened in June 2000 by HRH Prince of Wales and constructed in the shape of a Horsa glider in cross-section, the Memorial Pegasus is a fitting tribute to the bravery and determination of the men of the 6th Airborne Division who came to Normandy by parachute and glider over 60 years ago.

There is a quite superb collection of photographs, maps, documents and memorabilia, many donated by the veterans themselves including Piper Bill Millin’s bagpipes and Major Howard’s battle bowler. The highlight, however, is undoubtedly the original Pegasus Bridge, now fully restored in the Memorial Park outside the main building. There is also a replica of a Horsa a glider as well as artillery and military vehicles.

The original bridge in the grounds of the Memorial Museum. Photo: Mark Sluman.

The museum is open every day except in December and January. For further information check out the virtual tour on the official website by clicking on the link above.

D-Day Museum Arromanches
Place du 6 Juin, 14117 Arromanches
Tel : +33 (0)2 31 22 34 31
E-mail : info.@arromanches-museum.com
Website: http://www.arromanches-museum.com/accueil/

Photo: Mark Sluman.

Opened in 1954, this was the first museum dedicated to the Normandy Landings and, in the opinion of the author, alongside the Pegasus Memorial Museum, one of the best. It is particularly good in explaining the construction and operation of the Mulberry Harbour using photographs and models to help identify the numerous individual sections with their codenames and demonstrating their role in the overall structure. The museum also has a good bookshop and outside are a range of vehicles and guns from the period.

For further information check out the virtual tour on the official website by clicking on the link above.