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Sainte-Mere-Eglise
Things to Do in Sainte-Mere-Eglise
Airborne Museum
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Airborne Museum

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Airborne Museum
4.5
2,494 reviews
#3 of 14 things to do in Sainte-Mere-Eglise
Speciality Museums • History Museums
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9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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About
The Airborne Museum, situated in the square of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, a few miles from D-Day landing beaches, facing the church where John Steele famously was caught, relates the heroic adventure of paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division. Through a spectacular museography, the Airborne Museum takes you through the D-Day alongside American paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division. From the invasion preparations in England through the battles for liberation, meet the Airborne troops and accompany them on their journey to Victory.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Admission tickets
from $10.60
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
18 within 3 miles
Chez Jeanne
600
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • French • European • Healthy
Auberge John Steele
668
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • French • European
Bistrot 44
161
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • French • Pizza • Fast Food
Big Marcel - Restaurant
105
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • French • American • Fast Food
Creperie Cauquigny
244
0.1 mi$ • French • European • Vegetarian Friendly
Le Castel
212
0.1 mi$ • French • Cafe • British
Les Ecuries
50
0.1 miFrench • Cafe • Diner • Dining bars
Bistrot at The Biscuit Sainte-mere-eglise
277
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • French • European
Le Fournil de Sainte Mère Eglise
61
0.1 mi$ • Bakeries • French
C-47 Cafe
108
520 ft$ • Quick Bites • American • Fast Food
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Attractions
27 within 6 miles
Sainte-Mere-Eglise Church
906
252 ftHistoric Sites • Religious Sites
Sainte Mere Eglise
752
493 ftReligious Sites
Aces High Gallery
21
0.1 miArt Galleries
Ferme-Musée du Cotentin
68
0.5 miSpeciality Museums
La Fiere Bridge and Iron Mike Monument
137
2.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Bridges
La Batterie d'Azeville (Azeville gun battery)
300
Ancient Ruins
Eglise Saint-Come-et-Saint-Damien d'Angoville-au-Plain
65
1.5 miHistoric Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
Musée du Débarquement Utah Beach
1,714
Military Museums • Battlefields
D-Day Experience (Dead Man's Corner museum)
1,280
Military Museums • History Museums
Batteries de Crisbecq
237
Historic Sites
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,495 reviews
Excellent
1,853
Very good
563
Average
64
Poor
11
Terrible
4
luv2ride
Maryland612 contributions
Worthwhile visit, lots of staged scenes
Jun 2020 • Couples
We only visited 3 museums during our week in the area and this was the first. They are all telling the same historical story, so it’s important to pick the ones with a focus that interests you or else they all run together.

The Airborne Museum was good for an awesome display o f what it was like for the planes bombing the enemy on the ground, several planes, very extensive weaponry and personal kit, and the small vignettes they created to show how people dressed, worked (ie military activities).

The displays are spread out in several buildings which keeps it uncrowded; the buildings are shaped to evoke the focus of the displays inside, ie plane wing,etc.

Very extensive book selection in the museum shop.

Located within site of the main square and church (5 minutes). Public paid parking across the street.
Written June 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Airborne 44 Tours (Normandy to Bastogne)
Bastogne, Belgium22 contributions
First class museum
Jun 2019
Every year I have hundreds of American clients tour with me on the D-day beaches. I start my tour with a introduction to the build up to the action in Normandy on the early hours of the 6th of June 1944, and a visit of this wonderful collection. Young and old love this museum. The simulation of jumping over the village by parachute on the early hours of the 6th of June 1944 is a must for young or old.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frank D
32 contributions
Great museum
Jul 2022
We were very pleasantly surprised at how good the Airborne Museum is! Very well kept. Massive amount of exhibits both inter-active and to view. The centre pieces of the C45 and glider are superb. Well worth an afternoon's visit.
Written August 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Terry G
Murphy, United States13 contributions
82d and 101st Memoralized
May 2019 • Couples
My wife and I visited the museum after touring the town of Ste. Mere Egleise. We did this on our on. We did not have a guide and made the battlefield tours on our time schedule. We spent 5 days in the area and I will be the first to say that if you are a WWII buff or a true history buff this is not enough time to go to each of the areas and soak in the details.
The museum is full of artifacts that are true to the era. I was a member of the 82d Airborne Division and knew the history coming in to the museum but I was not ready for the artifacts that were assembled there. It was wonderful with what I call true content. I enjoyed all of it to include the audio in the C47s are we walked about. I spent about 5 hours here and had to be prodded to leave by my wife. She had us on a schedule and as a history nut of D day I did not have enough time in the museum. (Sorry Sheila). This one really told the story. I appreciated the ability to go aboard a glider. I was assigned to the 1st of the 319th Field Artillery of the 82d and had I been there in WWII I would have ridden a glider into combat.
One of the best museums of military history in the world. I want go back now that the 75th Anniversary celebrations are over. My wife and I were hurried because of the preparations for the 75th anniversary not by the museum but by other venues.
The Gift shop has many gifts that Airborne troops would love to possess.
I cannot say enough good about this museum.
One final note. Anyone that knows any history about that fateful night of the 82d jump will know there was a fire in a house and barn. The museum sits on the site of this unfortunate fire which is across the street from the church where Pvt. Steele got entangled in the church spire. In the movie the Longest Day Red Buttons played Pvt. Steele. Pvt Steele's effigy still hangs from a spire albeit a different more photogenic position that where he landed.
Loved the whole are and the people love the 82d and 101st troops. Go, go, go go. I will make this jump again.
Review of: Airborne Museum Admission Ticket
Written June 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Richgaspo
Richmond, VA5 contributions
First Rate Museum
Jul 2015
As a former paratrooper in the 82d Airborne, I have long desired to visit the D-Day drop zones and Sainte Mere-Eglise. Therefore it was with great anticipation that I approached those venues earlier this month on a trip,to France. Simply walking the ground where brave men tread 71 years ago was almost a reverential experience. But I did not anticipate how much the Airborne Museum would add to that experience. It is indeed a first rate, visitor friendly museum that captures the spirit of the airborne invasion in June 1944. With its historically accurate dioramas and genuine artifacts, it has something to offer both the neophyte and informed historian. I am aware of no other museum that has both a full scale glider and C-47 aircraft (the 82d Airborne Museum at Fort Bragg only has half of a glider). My only negative comment is that some of the soldier mannequins appear to be a bit feminine which not even blackened camouflage paint can cover up. This deficit should be corrected by the curators. Otherwise, this is a museum not to be missed.
Written July 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
IrishLady8
Kansas City, MO257 contributions
Would have enjoyed seeing this but they closed at normal hours!
Jun 2014 • Business
How can you close a business at normal operating hours when you have an influx of international travelers attending a 70th anniversary event that is once in a lifetime? The traffic to get to the area alone was reason enough to extend hours - not to mention the hungry and knowledgeable visitors who were salivating to see this site. Tourism fail.
Written June 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gigi05_12
Retford, UK58 contributions
Worthwhile visit
Aug 2019 • Family
This museum has really grown over the years. We took 2 boys 8 and 5 and it was their first museum about WW2. They were given iPads that showed them more visual information about the exhibits. Walking through the glider brought it how just how perilous the mission was. Lots of poignant small exhibits such as a chess set made us realise how everyone, soldiers and civilians alike. were clinging to some kind of normality. The boys were very interested, it was a good family visit, not too expensive and one to recommend.
Review of: Airborne Museum Admission Ticket
Written September 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chris W
Alabaster, AL232 contributions
Worth seeing
Jul 2019 • Friends
This is one of only a few D-Day museums that are worth visiting. The chance to see an actual glider and get a glimpse of what these young men endured & accomplished is great. The exhibits are first rate and the films informative. Definitely worth your time if you are in St Mere Eglise.
Written July 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TravelerBR11
Waxahachie, TX193 contributions
Amazing Exhibits!
Jul 2019 • Couples
We visited this museum as part of a daylong tour of the Normandy region and this was definitely a highlight of the day. My history-loving husband was in heaven seeing all of the exhibits. He especially enjoyed the Operation Neptune building, where you get to walk through as if you are parachuting from a plane. It didn't take very long to see it all, probably under an hour, but was well worth the visit.
Review of: Airborne Museum Admission Ticket
Written July 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
holiday-view23-7-11
Basingstoke, UK1,802 contributions
A lot to see on one site
May 2019 • Couples
The site has three main buildings with different exhibits and of course there is a large gift shop. We came as part of a large D-Day history tour arranged and booked through our cruise ship so it was costly but well worth it. Our guide left us here to explore the site on our own and there was a lot to see including some films about operation Overlord. It was nice to wonder around in the well kept grounds too so if you are with someone who is not interested in the history of the war then they could enjoy the area around the site or the near by village. There are displays of equipment both US and German as well as models set out on display that look well maintained. You can get an audio guide to take around with you but we didn't just took time to read the information and take in the visual displays. There are toilets on site and the access is easy for most people although there are stairs up to a platform to give you a better view of one of the sites. The site is suitable for all ages and especially interesting for those who like WWII history. About two hours would be the maximum time you would need to see it all but you could get around the site quicker if you wanted to.
Review of: Airborne Museum Admission Ticket
Written May 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Airborne Museum (Sainte-Mere-Eglise) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Airborne Museum
Airborne Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
Airborne Museum admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $10.62, while a popular guided tour starts around $121.03 per person. See all 10 Airborne Museum tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
Airborne Museum can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. See all 10 Airborne Museum tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
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