End clap for the Arromanches Landing Museum! It closed its doors this Tuesday evening, November 1, the last visitors left the premises around 5:30 p.m. A temporary closure, because all museum collections will actually move to a brand new buildinglocated a few meters away, under construction since January 2021 and which should open its doors in March 2023.
An iconic museum, 78 years old
It prevents that for the many visitors who came to enjoy the last day of opening, that’s something. “This museum, I went there when I was little, during school trips or with my parents, so it had been a while since I had been there“, smiles Emmanuel, in military uniform of the 47th British commando, landed in Port-en-Bessin (Calvados). “The models, the films, the showcases are very lively, that’s what makes it a unique museum.”
© Radio France
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Marie Martirosyan
Because it is indeed a historical museum, the oldest in Normandy dedicated to D-Day, 68 years old: it had opened its doors in this same building in 1954, only 10 years after D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Decision of Raymond Triboulet, sub-prefect of Free France appointed in 1944.
“It’s great to be in front of the remains of the artificial harbour, to be on these places of history in a way, and then it allows children to better understand the Second World War.“, explains Antonin, accompanied by his two children. “But still, the museum is too small and there are not enough things to see“, protests his granddaughter, a cricket in hand, an object used by American paratroopers to find their way around and hunt down enemies.
© Radio France
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Marie Martirosyan
More space and a modernized museum
The future museum will make it possible to have more space, to provide new equipment“especially for the youngest because we will install more multimedia spaces and virtual reality“, explains Frédéric Sommier, the director of the Landing Museum. “This is how we can make them discover history and ensure that they do not forget the duty of memory.”
Note that since its opening, the Arromanches Landing Museum will have welcomed more than 20 million visitors.
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