An excellent overall museum, with the focus being on WWII. It's even situated over a large German command bunker used during WWII for command of forces in Normandy - you can visit the bunker as well. Exhibition was very well done as it traced the origins of WWII and provided a lot of info on the war itself and how it affected the region. Be sure to get an audio guide as these provided excellent insight and commentary. There's also a film to be seen - just watch the monitor for when it's showing. Gift shop was great with something for everyone (books in French and English, momentos, toys for kids, etc.). There's also an eatery on the second floor which had a very good food options and allowed for a nice break. Staff were very polite and helpful. On weekdays, you'll encounter lots of school groups, but less so on the weekends.

This is an excellent museum with lots to offer. We spent from 10 AM through till 6 PM enjoying all of its attractions. It concentrates on the 20th century, with a rolling series of displays on WWII, but also a section on the Cold War. We also went to the exhibition on America in the 1920s which was enjoyable in its own right (the linkage being that many American servicemen were born and grew up in this period). There are not too many displays of military equipment, so if this is what you want to see then go to other museums. The display boards are well-written, not too lengthy, and reference a wide variety of artefacts in the adjacent cabinets. They bring out the personal side of the war. There is also a film on D-Day and the Normandy landings, and a film in the 360 cinema on the 20th century (although the latter seems to concentrate on negative aspects and I would skip if you have children). The cafe was fine, don’t forget to visit the bunker at the back, and there is a well-stocked gift and bookshop. People have said it is the best military museum in France. Provided you are not looking for the hardware of war (tanks etc) then this may well be true.

Excellent museum. We were in a bit of a hurry but could've spent a few more hours in the museum. Great exhibits, thorough view on ww2 and what happened before that. Large setting, plenty of room for all of the visitors, however we didn't visit during the most popular time. Great experience altogether.

Visited this museum just before the D Day 80th anniversary. This really is a museum worth visiting it’s a place to understand the horrors of war not just about the Normandy landings. With some excellent exhibits that give you an understanding of history. I would really recommend you leave at least 3 hours to cover the exhibits and make sure you get the audio guide to ensure you get the full tour it really is a place worth going out of your way to visit.

Amazing museum of WWII. Though when visiting Normandy most people will end up, like us, seeing other area-specific museums, this museum covers the ramp up to WWII all the way through the war. Were I to do it again, alone, I'd do it in 2 days since it became a bit overwhelming, so much to see.

Fantastic Museum dedicated to WW2 and the Cold War. Great information and artefacts on display. Lovely Cafe for Coffee and a Muffin. Lovely respectful Staff and clean, safe surroundings. Free Parking and free entry as I am an RAF Veteran. All in all a great day out.

When we enquired at the Tourist Information Office the young lady said that it would take about 4 hours to do the museum justice. She was wrong. We were there for six hours and there were still two exhibits that we didn't see. An extremely interesting museum detailing what led to WW2 right up to the Cold War and how Caen was affected during that time. As far as I recall all information is bi - lingual, so not a problem if you don't speak French. The free car park isn't really big enough for the number of visitors. Another minor criticism is that the videos all have English sub titles at the bottom. Hence if people sit at the front no one can read them from the back row. Why not put the sub titles at the top?

I allocated half a day to Caen Memorial as part of a tour of DDay beaches and sites; I ended up staying for 9 hours. Its a brilliant place with several different sections covering DDay, the Battle of Normandy, WW II, the Cold War and European History. In addition to numerous artifacts there are films and lots of human stories. All this for €9, less for groups. In an area with a huge variety of memorials and museums, this is an absolute stand-out attraction of which the people of Caen should be rightly proud. If you are a WWII history teacher, Normandy is well worth a school visit and this place a must. There's a cafe, lockers and a comprehensive bookshop.

They say allow four hours and they are not wrong. The WW2 exhibition is overwhelming and comprehensive. The Battle of Normandy exhibit is more focused and, for us, more interesting. We didn't have time for the Cold War, the special exhibition on America or the bunker. I am sure they are all interesting. The bookshop was also comprehensive. Finally, we visited the memorial plaza in front of the museum with plaques from several countries.

This museum is pretty amazing. The still crated jeep at the entrance is pretty neat. The audio tour takes you through the war from start to finish and is worth the price. If you listen to the whole thing you'll have a hard time finishing in two hours.