The Caen Memorial Museum

The Caen Memorial is the major Second World War museum in Normandy, built over the underground command bunker of General Wilhelm Richter, the German commander of the coastal sector on D-Day. It opened on June 6, 1988, and its 14,000 square meters run from the rise of fascism through the war, the Holocaust, the Battle of Normandy, and on into the Cold War, with two sections of the Berlin Wall on display.

What You Will See

The galleries are arranged chronologically: the path to war, occupation and resistance, the Holocaust, total war, and the hundred days of the Battle of Normandy, told with period objects, film, and personal accounts. Richter’s original bunker sits beneath the building and belongs to the visit, and memorial gardens surround it. Caen itself lost most of its center and 2,000 civilians in the weeks after D-Day, and the museum gives that side of the story more room than any other site on the coast. A full visit takes about four hours; the bookshop is the only one in Normandy devoted entirely to twentieth-century history.

Hours and Tickets

The museum opens daily from 9 or 9:30 a.m. depending on season, with a handful of Wednesday closures in November and December 2026. On-site ticket sales stop 75 minutes before closing. Adult entry costs 20.80€, visitors 10 to 18 and over 65 pay 18.50€, students pay 6€, and the family ticket costs 53€, at 2026 rates. Combined tickets cover the Arromanches 360 cinema. Check hours and book at memorial-caen.com.

Getting There

The Memorial stands on the northern edge of Caen at exit 7 of the ring road, two hours from Paris by car and two hours by train to Caen station, then bus line 2 to the esplanade. The LinkParis.com Normandy D-Day tour from Caen meets inside Caen station, begins the day with a guided visit and lunch at the museum, and spends the afternoon on Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and the American Cemetery. Our guide to the ten best D-Day museums in Normandy covers the wider region.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Caen Memorial cost?
Adult entry costs 20.80€, visitors 10 to 18 and seniors over 65 pay 18.50€, students pay 6€, and the family ticket costs 53€, at 2026 rates.

How long does the Caen Memorial take?
A full visit takes about four hours. Ticket sales stop 75 minutes before closing, so arrive by early afternoon at the latest.

Is the Caen Memorial only about D-Day?
No. The museum covers the full arc from the 1930s through the Second World War and the Holocaust into the Cold War, with the Battle of Normandy as one major section and two pieces of the Berlin Wall on display.

Can you visit the Caen Memorial from Paris in one day?
Yes. Caen sits two hours from Paris by train or car, and day tours combine a morning at the Memorial with an afternoon on the landing beaches.