Best places: History museums in France

Modern museum on the site of the 1944 D-Day landing, with multimedia exhibits on WWII history.

Sobering memorial consisting of the preserved remains of a town wiped out by the Nazis during WWII.

Immersive & interactive exhibits depict a 1916 battle in this comprehensive museum.

👍 It's hard to rate this place because you have to distinguish between the cave itself, which is amazing, and the organization of the visit, which is catastrophic. The reconstructed grotto is simply phenomenal and the automated audio guide is excellent. We had a 18h30 entry. They were running late so...

👍👍 This is an amazing place to visit. Anyone remotely interested in military history would really enjoy a visit here. Apart from a very well preserved Maginot line fort, there’s also a story attached. Regrettably, there was not a good outcome for the soldiers who served here. You will have to visit to...

Guided tours & exhibits detail the history of these subterranean tunnels used strategically in 1917.

👍👍 You will not find photographs of Marshals Gamelin or Weygand on the walls of this museum and there are no large maps with red and blue arrows showing grand strategy and the movements of corps and armies. What you will find are dozens and dozens of realistic figurines in authentic uniforms and equipm...

Immense, 18th-century palace with gilded apartments, chandeliered Hall of Mirrors & fountain show.

Collections of weapons and uniforms tracing French military conflicts, plus Napoleon's tomb.

Caen's Centre for History & Peace, exploring WWII, the Normandy landings & the Cold War.

Medieval tapestry museum containing the 69m long story of William the Conqueror's English invasion.

Museum in neighboring mansions with Paris art & history exhibits focused on 16th & 17th centuries.

👍👍 This is by far THE best WW2 museum I have been too. If you have time make sure to visit the museum, do the flight simulator, watch the 3D films then visit Dead Man's corner. It costs €19.90pp and takes 3 hours but is absolutely worth it and time passes quickly. I would recommend booking tickets i...

Landmark visitor center with exhibits & films on the Canadian military & WWII's D-Day landings.

Paintings, sculptures & objects from the revolutionary period in a chateau set in a landscaped park.

Multimedia, museum of WWII & French occupation, plus 3D planetarium in huge, 1940s rocket bunker.

Museum about WWI, with battlefield recreations, aircraft & tank displays, & kids' activities.

👍👍 A very interesting place, especially if you're looking at WW2 sites - this very well preserved site is definitely worth visiting. The German forces were certainly well organised... this huge gun station bombed England during WW2. See various displays and find out all about what happened here. Goo...

👍👍 Immerse yourself in the exciting world of aviation thanks to exciting enthusiasts. I learned a plethora of things (especially about the Concorde and the caravelle). To be enjoyed without delay; and plan to dress warmly as most of the visit is outdoors Finally, you will be able to test your piloting...

😐 Beware, I came on a public holiday and it was shut but this was not noted on their site or published opening hours.