War Museums in Brittany

Musee de la Resitance Bretonne, Saint-Marcel

This historical museum unique in Brittany, make you discover on 1500m2 exhibit, the life and engagement of people here in Brittany during WWII.  In this museum, the free French paratroopers decided to install their permanent national exhibit.  A lot of collection pieced are presented, some unique in France, completed by  audio-visual projections and models.  Guided visits are available in July and August.

Opening Times

Open all year
From 16th Sept - 14th June - 10h - 12h/14h - 18h
from 15th June - 15th September - 10h - 19h

Musee National de La Marine

The museum of Nautical Adventure.  Visit the permanent citadel museum and discover the lifeboats and oars of Philippes de Kerhallet constructed in 1897, a remarkable testimony to the courage of the rescuers of the sea. Traditional fishing boats and the hall of arsenals, sculptures, historical illustrations of French maritime history since the 17th Century.

A citadel overlooking the sea.  Founded by the Spanish and reinforced by Louis XIII.  To ensure the protection of Lorient.  An admirable example of military architecture.

Opening Times

April - September - 10h - 18h30, every day
Oct - March - 10h-12h/14h-18h

Memoral 39-45 le la Cite d'Alet

Created in 1994 by the town of Saint-Malo, the 39/45 Memorial is in charge of saving and protecting the Memory of the 39/45 war period in the region.  Installed in the German anti-aircraft bunker built into the ancient fort of the Alet city, on about 500m2, 3 levels, 10 rooms you will be plunged into the history, pictures, dummies, weapons.... are here to recreate the atmosphere of this time, the bunker has been restored in its original condition.

There is a 1 hour guided tour throughout the day.

Opening Times 

July to Aug every day
10h15, 11h, 14h, 15h, 16h & 17h
April - June and in Sept from Tuesday - Sunday.

Memorial des Finisteriens 1939-1945

Educational exhibits will be presented inside the six barracks of the Louis XVI fort, all will be explained with materials from U.S, French and German armies: mines, ammunitions, weapons.  A movie about the fight of Brest is projected.  Inside the fort you can also discover the complete range of Allied vehicles from the jeep to tracted artillery.  All vehicles presented are in working condition and can make a demonstration.  Inside he fort, is also installed a wagon used to Intern people in Germany, it was used twice, it is dedicated to the people who were interned.

Opening Times

From Mon-Friday 14h - 18h
Open for groups on appointment
Information from Mon - Fri 9h - 12h/14h-18h

Musee du Souvenir de Coetquidan

Gate of Brittany, the Broceliande forest close to the museum of the Saint-Cyr Coetquidan school for the army officers. The museum presents collections in order to recount the glorious and also sometimes tragical past of the officers and school who educated them from the old regime to nowadays.  Register is still today keeping the memory of the officers killed in action for France.  A large retrospective of the uniforms, showing the differences from the Louis XVI to nowadays.  You will discover a lot of personal objects, drawings, authentic documents, weapons. de Gaulle, Lyuatet, de Foucauld, Napolean and others are evoked in this memory museum, where you can also discover a very impressive statue of Antoine Bourdelle situated at the entrance of the large memorial.

Opening Times

Open from 1st February - 15th December, free access to the camp open all days - 10h-12h/14h-18h (closed Mondays)

Site de la base de Sous'marins de Lorient-Keroman

From the battle of Atlantic to the pocket of  Lorient.  The 21st June 1940, the German troops arrived in Lorient.  Lorient will be the most important base of the battle in the Atlantic and Admiral Doenitz will concentrate his submarines here.  In a few months the biggest XXth century fortress was built.  Indestructible, the base was the cause of the town's destruction in 1943.  The 10th May 1945 Lorient was liberated, the U-Boat base was taken and re-used by the French army until 1997, date of the last submarine departure.

Opening Times

Open all days, except Monday

Musee "Les Sanglots Longs" de Reguiny

The museum has been open since 1994, you will discover the whole WWII history in general and on a local view.  Also presented the history of the wireless radio from the beginning to the 50's.  A lot of displays showing the occupation, facts, and the wireless radio evolution, more than 60 dummies, a museum which gives you the smell of the past.  Also a special homage to a RAF pilot John Clifford crashed in Reguiny on the 28th July 1944.  Reguiny is the first 'green station' in Brittany.

Opening Times

Open all year, High season 10h-19h, Low season 14h - 18h

Le Grand Blockhaus, Musee de la Poche de Saint-Nazire

Situated in Loire-Atlantique, between La Baule and Le Croisic, The Saint-Nazire Pocket is the last place liberated in Europe the 11th May 1945.  Come and discover one of the biggest German Bunkers ever built, an authentic Atlantic Wall Command Post of the Kriegsmarine.  This bunker with three observation levels faces to the sea, guided two railroad Artillery guns of 240mm.  A lot of models, large display and historical reconstruction with more than 40 dummies in WWII uniforms, are telling the history of the St Nazire Pocket, and particularly the life in a German Bunker. (weapon room, machine room, radio, dormitories etc.

Opening Times

Open from 1st April - 15th November 10h - 19h
Open Christmas Holidays and February.  Closed on Tuesdays in low season.

Musee des Blindes de Saumur

In an exceptional location, the Saumur Tank museum offers to the public a collection of 850 vehicles.  More than 150 armored vehicles are set out through the realistic shows of the XXth century. Most of the presented vehicles are in working order.

Opening Times

Open from 1st May - 30th October 9h30 - 18h30
1st October - 30th April - 10h - 17h