The Airborne Museum (Musée Airborne) is dedicated to the memory of the troops of 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division who landed in Normandy, by parachute or glider, on the night of 5–6 June 1944 hours before the Allied landings in Normandy. Its collections have been donated by the townspeople and thanks to gifts from the veterans of 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.It was founded in 1962 and on 6 June that year its first stone was laid by General Gavin, who had liberated the town of Sainte-Mère-Église.

Its first building, built to look like a parachute from the air, was opened on 6 June 1964 (the twentieth anniversary of D-Day) and houses a WACO glider. Its second building opened in 1984, built to look like a billowing parachute and housing a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, one of the aircraft which towed gliders to Sainte-Mère-Église. Its third building is due to open in 2014 and will house (among other things) a reconnaissance kit.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1962
Category: Museums in France

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Beata Iwańska (2 years ago)
One of the best and most enetrtaining museums I've ever visited. We've spent there over 3h and I don't regret a minute of that time. Great collection, awesome lightning.
Lars O. (2 years ago)
Beautiful museum. One of the best WWII museum's I have visited. At the beginning you receive a interactive tablet where you can find extra information and helps you imagine how things looked during the war. Especially the part where you step into a plane to imagine the parachutedrop above Normandy is a breathtaking experience. When you visit Normandy you MUST visit this museum.
Mathias Steck (2 years ago)
One of the best - if not the best - D-Day museums. The presentation is stunning. The C47 experience is memorable. A great museum for both adults and kids with so many things to explore.
Cath White (2 years ago)
Excellent visit. Good use of tablets to navigate the museum and to provide additional information on the displays. Good interactive displays. All in French and English. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.
Handy Manny (2 years ago)
What a fantastic place to discover what was done by the soldiers of the 101st and 82nd airborne on D-day and beyond. Lots of interesting facts and stories. Included in the entrance price is an interactive iPad that you can scan as you go along and read more of the facts. The whole museum is wheelchair and pushchair friendly. To properly take everything in, you should allow for four hours for your visit or more, but that is my time and what I wanted to find out. Go and visit- excellent
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Kakesbeck Castle

Kakesbeck is one of the largest medieval fortifications in Münsterland and the oldest castle in Lüdinghausen. The imposingly grown complex originated in 1120 as a motte, a small hilltop tower castle. After numerous changes of ownership, the castle was extended onto two islands, but it was not until the 14th century that it underwent significant alterations and extensions under the von Oer family. The estate experienced its heyday in the middle of the 18th century, when it covered an area of almost one square kilometre and consisted of five further outer castles in addition to the core castle, which were secured by ramparts and moats.

The well-maintained condition of the castle today is thanks to the late Wilfried Grewing, the former lord of the castle. The foundation named after him has been particularly committed to preserving the property since 2020.