Opened in 1988 on the 44th anniversary of D-Day, the Mémorial de Caen is one of the most ambitious and affecting war museums in Europe. Its scope goes beyond Normandy: the museum covers the entire arc of the Second World War — the rise of fascism, the fall of France, the occupation, D-Day and the liberation — and then extends into the Cold War and questions of peace. The approach is historical and analytical rather than purely commemorative, which makes it valuable even for visitors who have read extensively on the subject.
The D-Day exhibits are outstanding, with archived footage, personal testimonies, and detailed maps of the landings. The section on life under German occupation in Normandy is particularly moving. Allow three to four hours; the museum is large and the content dense. There is a good cafe and a bookshop on site. After visiting, a shuttle service runs to the D-Day beaches.
The museum sits on the northern edge of Caen, about 3 kilometres from the city centre.