Built over and around a series of large German gun bunkers, the World War II Museum at Quineville at the northern end of Utah Beach is one of our favourite museums in Normandy and a must-see on any visit to the area.
The museum was taken over by new owners in late 2023 and they spent the winter months revamping and improving what was an already impressive experience ready for its grand reopening on March 30, 2024.
We were able to visit on opening day and found the Museum had been much improved, particularly with the lighting and layouts of the many display cases but also the level of detail on the information boards.
There are hundreds of objects packed into the building – both German and Allied – including weapons, uniforms, helmets, mines, equipment, and personal kit, with several vehicles on display too.
The museum is also famous for the recreation of a French street scene during the occupation and it’s great to see that it remains as a focal point in the heart of the building.
As mentioned, the museum is built on top of a once formidable German bunker site – Stp18 Quineville – and inside the building you can explore inside a R667 type casemate with its original 5cm KwK anti-tank gun still in place. This faces south along the beach where you can also see an extensive section of anti-tank wall.
The biggest change most returning visitors will see is that the extensive collection of 1:6 scale models and dioramas which once featured at the end of the walk through the museum have gone. These were the creations of the previous owner, an expert model builder.
This area has now been turned into an exhibition space, and for us it’s one of the highlights of the visit. This year the space is dedicated to the 1936 Olympics and there is a vast array of original items on display, donated by the families of German athletes who took part in the games. These include the running vest used by the athlete who lit the torch to open the games themselves – incredible!
Congratulations to the new owners for their hard work in making an already great museum even better. They’re a friendly family – give them a visit when you’re in the area.