Art, history, gastronomy, Normandy is a region rich in cultural experiences!
Here’s our selection of the best museums in Normandy to learn more about: museums on the D-Day landings, Impressionist art, the history of Joan of Arc…
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
Museums in Normandy
Normandy is best known for its D-Day ’44 museums.
We’ve chosen our favorites and most popular for this list.
But we also wanted to include local art and history museums to give you a better insight into our beautiful region.
If you only want to see a list of the best D-Day museums in Normandy, go to this other article.
1. Caen Memorial
Why visit – our opinion
The Caen Memorial Museum is considered the best World War II museum in France. You could spend a whole day on it, it’s so packed with information and features. It covers the landing but also the second world war as a whole.
In this enormous museum, you’ll find a German bunker, historical objects, vehicles, sound and video recordings…
We particularly liked it:
- D-Day section with models, maps and objects
- Veterans’ testimonials
- The section on the Cold War, including comparisons of apartments and objects
- The bunker
- Peace gardens
- Book your ticket to save time
Practical information
- In the city of Caen
- The museum is huge, and if you read everything, it could take 2 days. Allow at least half a day, but there’s a restaurant inside if you want to stay all day.
- Open every day
- Closed in January
- Book your ticket to save time
- Driving time from Bayeux: 25min
- Driving time from Caen: 0
- official website here
Read our article on the Caen Memorial Museum.
2. Bayeux tapestry
Why visit the Bayeux Tapestry?
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of the conquest of England in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy. This work, embroidered on linen canvas, is on display at the former Grand Séminaire de Bayeux (formerly a Catholic higher education establishment).
The Bayeux Tapestry is actually an exceptional embroidery of woolen threads on linen canvas. It illustrates the 11th-century Conquest of England by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy who became King of England in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings. The museum tour is divided into 3 parts:
- discover the original Tapestry on the 1st level,
- the exhibition room, where numerous art objects and works of art reveal the secrets of the Tapestry’s creation, as well as its medieval historical context,
- and finally, the 3rd level where the projection room is located.
It’s one of Bayeux’s must-sees.
Practical advice
- in the town of Bayeux
- allow 1h30 to 2h
- March to October: 9am to 6:30pm (7pm from May to August).
- November to February: 09:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 18:00.
Discover our article dedicated to the Bayeux Tapestry.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
3. Airborne Museum
Why visit – our opinion
The Normandy Airborne Museum is dedicated to the American paratroopers who arrived just as D-Day began.
The museum faces the church, which many will recognize because parachutist John Steele became famous for hanging from its steeple.
The museum has 3 buildings: WACO which focuses on gliders, C-47 which explains the preparations for D-Day and Operation Neptune to give you the experience of a night jump with their “hyperrealistic museography”.
See our article on the Airborne Museum.
We particularly liked it:
We particularly appreciated the discovery of the American Waco glider in the first pavilion. We were lucky enough toboard the full-sizeplane and imagine ourselves in the shoes of American paratroopers. This is the only example in France of a Waco glider still in its entirety. Thanks to the Histopad (touchscreen tablet provided), we could even visualize ourselves at the controls of the machine!
In the C-47 building, we also loved the interactive staging. We were able to attend the briefing of the parachutists with a hologram more real than life, and prepare to jump with them.
Finally in the building “ Opération Neptune”, the passage through the 4D aircraft immersed us in the action. Through the mix of sounds, images and movements, we felt as if we were living the events from the inside!
Each pavilion offers a different experience that will appeal to all audiences. Reserve your place.
Practical advice
- In the town of Sainte-Mère-Église
- Allow half a day
- Open every day
- Every year, the museum closes in December and January.
- Book your ticket to save time
- Driving time from Bayeux: 40min
- Driving time from Caen: 1h
- official website here
Read our article on the Airborne Museum.
4. Avranches Scriptorial (Mont-Saint-Michel)
Why visit it? Our review
The Scriptorial d’Avranches is the only museum in France dedicated to the presentation of ancient manuscripts from the 9th to the 15th centuries. You can admire the art of writing at its apogee through the magnificent collection of the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel on display in this museum. But also very beautiful sculptures, paintings and several sacred objects.
For us, this museum is really worth the trip! The Scriptorial is very modern, with many fascinating explanations on the secrets of the first books and the story of the creation of the “Wonder”.
Amazed by the beauty and authenticity of the well-preserved manuscripts, you’re sure to enjoy the museum’s original, interactive itinerary. It combines educational panels, indoor exhibits and digital tools to help visitors better understand the importance of this manuscript collection. The museum updates their presentation every three months.
You can also visit the temporary exhibitions staged at Scriptorial.
Practical advice
- In the town of Avranches, a 30-minute drive from Mont-Saint-Michel
- Allow 2 hours
- See the official website here
- Closed in January
- Closed Mondays year-round and Sundays in low season
- Price: 8€ for the first time
Read our article on the Avranches Scriptorial museum
WHERE TO STAY AT Mont-Saint-Michel
Option 1:
Choose one of the 7 hotels on the mountain, within the city limits – see our article
- The historic Auberge Saint-Pierre Hotel – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2:
Or sleep in the part called La Caserne which is between the parking lots and the footbridge to Mont-Saint-Michel.
- Mercure 4-starhotel – see prices, photos and availability
Option 3:
And if you are looking for luxury, check out our article dedicated to luxury hotels near Mont-Saint-Michel.
- The charming guest house Clos de Gilles – see prices, photos and availability
Option 4:
The Normandy countryside is very green and inspiring. At the bend in the forest or in the fields, pretty villages with beautiful buildings transport you to another world, or even another era.
- Hotel Ermitage at 5min – see prices, pictures and availability
- Château de Boucéel at 30min – see prices, pictures and availability
5. Rouen Art Museums
Why visit it? Our review
We highly recommend a visit to this museum. It houses one of France’s most prestigious public collections. We discovered incredible paintings, sculptures and other objets d’art dating from the 15th century to the present day. It is also home to works by such great artists as Rubens, Caravaggio, Velázquez, Géricault, Delacroix, Monet and Modigliani: Rubens, Caravaggio, Velázquez, Géricault, Delacroix, Monet and Modigliani. The list is not exhaustive. Our visit took us into different artistic worlds. What a pleasure it is to be able to enjoy such diversity within the museum!
We’d like to share with you our 3 favorite moments during our visit:
- the Joan of Arc exhibition, highlighting a great woman in history.
- the play of light on paintings by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, known as Caravaggio.
- the poetry that emanates from “Champ de coquelicots, environs de Giverny” by Impressionist master Claude Monet.
Practical advice
- In the city of Rouen
- Open daily from 10am to 6pm, except Tuesdays.
- Closed on January 1, May 1, November 1 and 11 and December 25.
- Temporary exhibitions included with the Rouen Pass.
- Suitable for children.
- Tour duration: 1h30min.
- Free admission.
- Link to the official museum website.
6. Cité de la mer
Why visit? Our review
In a completely different style, the Cité de la Mer is a must-see experience in Normandy.
The site houses Europe’s deepest aquarium, exhibitions on the seabed and ecology, the first nuclear-powered submarine, “Le Redoutable”, and a gallery full of underwater devices…
Practical advice
- In the city of Cherbourg
- Allow 4 to 5 hours for your visit
- Open daily (except Mondays from November to February)
- Closed in January
- Adult price: 19 euros
- Children aged 5 to 17: 14 euros
- see the official website here
7. Overlord Museum
Why visit? Our review
The Overlord Museum is not on the beach, but is located just a few minutes’ drive fromOmaha Beach, in Colleville-sur-Mer.
Its name refers to Operation Overlord, the code name for the Allied invasion of the Normandy beaches.
The museum covers the D-Day landings through to the liberation of Paris. The collection was founded by a local who witnessed the war as a teenager.
This museum is famous for its tanks and armoured vehicles, and its impressive collection of artefacts showing the life of soldiers and not only the firearms aspect (documents, souvenirs, personal effects…).
We particularly liked it:
- The magnificent collection of objects on display
- All the tanks and vehicles, once again in the spotlight
- Outdoor floats
- It’s a highly visual museum that’s easy to visit.
Practical information
- Location: Not far fromOmaha Beach
- Allow 2 hours to half a day, depending on your level of interest.
- Open every day
- Closed in January.
- official website here
STAYING NEAR THE D-Day beaches
Option 1: Bayeux
The most practical option, in our opinion, is to base ourselves in the town of Bayeux. We recommend..:
- Hotel Domaine de Bayeux in an 18th century mansion – see prices, photos and availability
- see all top rated accommodations in Bayeux
Option 2: in the countryside
In the countryside around the D-Day beaches, you will find beautiful buildings with a lot of charm: farms, manors…
- Hotel Domaine d’Utah Beach – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Ferme de la Rançonnière – prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: next to one of the beaches
If you’re looking for a seaside holiday or are fascinated by one of the beaches, you can choose a more specific hotel:
- Hotel Villas d’Arromanches in Gold Beach Beach – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel La Sapinière in Omaha Beach Beach – prices, pictures and availability
8. Musée des Impressionnismes in Giverny
Why visit – our opinion
Dedicated to the artistic movement of which Claude Monet was one of the masters, the Musée des Impressionnismes in Giverny celebrates the alliance between modernity, the outdoors and vivid colors.
Firstly, the building’s contemporary architecture, combined with its remarkable gardens, transports you into the world of French and American Impressionist greats such as Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Mary Cassatt and Henri Martin. Here you can admire Henri Martin’s early 20th-century Étude pour l’été, an oil on canvas on display at the museum.
In the garden surrounding this place of art and history, you’ll see the magnificent field of poppies that inspired Claude Monet to paint Champs de coquelicots à Giverny at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen.
Practical advice
- In the village of Giverny
- Allow at least one hour
- Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 1 to November 5, then with some variations in dates until early January, see details here.
Discover our article dedicated to the Musée des Impressionnismes in Giverny.
9. Utah Beach Landing Museum
Why visit – our opinion
Located on Utah Bach beach, theUtah Beach Beach Landing Museum is built on a German bunker.
It is organized chronologically, covering strategy, preparations, the history of D-Day (routes, liaison between divisions, etc.) and the outcome of the landing.
You’ll see plenty of objects and vehicles (including a B26 bomber), as well as a well-produced film.
We particularly liked it:
- Its location directly on the beach
- The panoramic round room overlooking the beach and the defense system
- All information on strategy, models and maps
- The air force section with the aircraft
Practical information
- Location: on Utah Beach
- Allow half a day to a full day, depending on your interest, to read all the panels.
- Open every day
- Book your ticket to save time
- official website here
Read our article on the Utah Beach museum (coming soon)
10. Eugène Boudin Museum
Why visit it? Our review
We loved our visit to the Eugène Boudin museum and it’s definitely worth a visit during your stay in Honfleur. In fact, we’ve included it in our list of the best things to do in Honfleur:
- For the richness of its collections, mainly devoted to impressionist painters and Norman landscapes. When you leave the museum, your view of Honfleur and the sea will have been enriched by the palette of painters exhibited in the museum.
- For the architectural beauty of some of the building’s rooms, which are housed in the former chapel of the Augustine convent.
- For the experience of being able to contemplate, in a single glance, the works and the landscapes that inspired them. This is particularly true of the bay window in the Katia Granoff room, which offers a wide view of the Seine estuary.
Practical advice
- In the town of Honfleur
- allow at least 1 to 1.5 hours to tour the 7 rooms
- Open all year round
- Open every day except Tuesday
- From 10am to 12pm and from 2:30pm to 5:30pm minimum
- Full adult rate: from 6,5€.
- see the official website here
Read our article on the Eugène Boudin Museum
11. MuMa Museum
Why visit it? Our review
If you like art, you can visit the MuMa (André Malraux Museum of Art). It is located at one end of the waterfront, not far from the container arches.
On permanent display, paintings from the 15th to the 20th century by Delacroix, Boudin, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet and many others…. It boasts one of the most prestigious collections of Impressionist art after that of the Paris region.
We love its open-air design overlooking the port, its modern ambience contrasting the works of the Impressionists with the skies outside the museum.
Practical advice
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12. Joan of Arc Museum (Historial)
Why visit it? Our review
A patriotic and religious heroine of the Hundred Years’ War (between the French and English from 1337 to 1453), Joan of Arc was burned alive on May 30, 1431 in Rouen’s Place du Vieux Marché. A must for any visit to Rouen.
Through an immersive journey, the museum invites visitors to discover the story of Joan of Arc. It focuses on the entire period from the end of his life to his posterity. The palace itself was the setting for the 2 trials of the famous Pucelle d’Orléans. She was burnt alive in 1431 in the Place du Vieux-Marché, aged just 19 at the time. With 1,000m2 dedicated to a spectacular and innovative tour, we’re convinced that the Historial will become a must-see venue in Rouen!
Practical advice
- In the city of Rouen
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 7pm.
- Closed Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
- Included in the Rouen Pass.
- Suitable for children.
- Length of visit: 2 hours.
- Full adult price: €11.
- Link to the official museum website.
13. Alençon Lace Museum
Why visit it? Our review
Alençon lacemaking is part of the intangible cultural heritage listed by Unesco. Needlework in the region dates back to the 16th century, with the creation of the royal lace factories.
Visit the museum to learn more about the history of this royal lace, its specificity and its execution techniques. Best of all, you’ll be able to see some very fine pieces on display.
Practical advice
- In the town of Alençon
- Open all year round, every day (except Mondays from September to June).
- Self-guided tour €3 or guided tour €6
- See the official website here
14. Caen Art Museums
Why visit it? Our review
Our visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts was a real highlight. While it is considered a benchmark museum for 17th- and 18th-century European painting, contemporary art also has a place in the museum’s avant-garde galleries and sculpture park! With a wealth of great names in painting (Rembrandt, Dürer, Perugino, Monet…), you can admire masterpieces of all genres (landscapes, portraits…). There’s something for everyone!
The 3 things to see during your visit
Although our favorites are influenced by our artistic sensibilities, we’d like to share with you the highlights of our visit:
- The Lou sculpture (2015) by Jaume Plensa: we found this face, in the sculpture park, quite simply impressive!
- The Italian Renaissance section (first floor): we thoroughly enjoyed this part of the visit, punctuated by the splendid triptych of The Virgin and Child between St. George and St. James, by Cima da Conegliano.
- Normandy painted by the avant-garde, for example with the work Retreat. La Manneporte, reflections on the waterby Claude Monet.
Practical advice
- Open all year except Mondays in low season.
- Closed January 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, Ascension Day, November 1, December 25.
- Included in the City-Pass.
- Opening hours: 9.30am to 6pm and weekends from 11am to 6pm.
- Suitable for children.
- Visit duration: between 1h30 and 2h.
- Full adult admission: €3.50 (non-exhibition)/€5.50 (exhibition period).
- The Musée des Beaux-Arts is a 7-minute drive from downtown Caen, 15 minutes on foot and by public transport.
- The official website of the Musée des Beaux-Arts is available here.
Read our article on the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
15. Calvados Père Magloire experience
Why visit it? Our review
On the gastronomic front, you’ll also find plenty of small museums devoted to Normandy specialities such as cheeses (Camembert, neufchâtel…) and spirits (Calvados, cider, Benedictine…).
In Pont-l’Évêque, for example, you can visit the Père Magloire distillery to learn more about apple production in Nomandie and how Calvados is made.
Practical advice
- Open every day
- Closed the first half of January
- Running time: 1h15
- Price: €14.50
- In Pont-l’Évêque the official website here
Other museums that inspired us
If there are topics of particular interest to you, here’s a complementary list:
- Musée de la ferronnerie in Rouen – see our article
- Rouen Ceramics Museum
- Musée Baron Gérard in Bayeux, on the history of the town – see our article
- Musée de la Bénédictine in Fécamp – see our article on Fécamp
- Musée de la Normandie in Caen – see our article
- Museum and archaeological site at Vieux-la-Romaine, not far from Caen
- The Mont-Saint-Michel Bay Ecomuseum
- …
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Normandy
Inspiration destinations
- Deciding where to go in Normandy – the best destinations
- Our weekend ideas: best-of, romantic, unusual, seaside, luxury, family
- 16 seaside hotels in Normandy
- The most beautiful charming hotels in Normandy
Best of
Practice
- Where to stay in Normandy – best places and hotels
- See our tips for renting a car at CDG airport, Orly airport, Beauvais airport, Caen, Rouen, Bayeux…
