The Merville Battery was a German army fortification during the Second World War, neutralized on June 6, 1944 by the British 9th Parachute Battalion. The site, now transformed into a place of remembrance, offers a fascinating and poignant plunge into history. If we loved our visit, it’s because the entirely preserved site creates immersion by re-enacting the D-Day assault through a projection and giving visitors the chance to wander through its historic elements(bunkers, aircraft, cannon).
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Merville Battery, Normandy, on Sword Beach.
BEFORE OUR TIPS + PHOTOS
HERE ARE OUR favorites
Our favorite car rental platform with great offers: DiscoverCars
Our favorite places to stay:
Hotel Domain de Bayeux, elegant and central – see photos and availability
Hotel Domaine d’Utah Beach, for the north – see photos and availability
Hôtel Ferme de la Rançonnière, the charm of the countryside – view photos and availability
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to the Merville Battery worthwhile?
Yes, and we’d even go so far as to say that a visit to the Merville Battery is a must!
Located close to Sword Beach, the site will enable you..:
- Gain a concrete understanding of the German defensive system during the Second World War, with a tour of the various bunkers in the battery.
- An immersive presentation of the courage of the Allied soldiers who liberated France on D-Day, with sound and light projections and personal accounts.
This site is one of our top 5 German batteries in Normandy (worth a visit) and an interesting stopover if you’re visiting the D-Day beaches!
What you can see
Admire a D-Day aircraft
He’s the star of the site! An authentic Douglas C-47, the aircraft used during the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. The first Second World War transport plane to be classified as a “Historic Monument”, it was repainted in its original color on the day of the assault. A ladder gives access to the cockpit to see the seats from which the parachutists were dropped among the 700 young people sent out that night.
You’ll be impressed by its size and the memory it carries.
It is indeed moving to think that of the 700 men of the 9th Parachute Battalion sent out, only 150 were able to take part in the attack on the Merville site!
Want to find out more about Sword Beach, where D-Day began? Discover this day trip around the battlefields of Normandy.
Understanding the structure of the Merville Battery
During the Second World War, Hitler set up numerous fortifications along the coast of Europe to prevent an enemy invasion. Known as the “Atlantic Wall”, it encompassed 4,000km of coastline and several artillery batteries (defensive guns), some of which are still visible today, such as the one at Merville. An educational trail explains how a battery works, the strategic positioning of the Merville battery for the Germans, and the daily life of the soldiers confined there. We particularly liked the diagrams showing the bunkers’ structure, organization and functions (barracks, kitchen, command post, etc.).
Visit 4 old bunkers
What makes this site so unique is the opportunity to visit the interior of the various casemates, built in concrete and steel.
– Bunker n°1 recreates D-Day. Here you can see the wax mannequins representing the Germans, ready to strike back, and it’s in this room that the sound and image re-enactment of the attack takes place.
– The other bunkers pay tribute to the various soldiers (British, Canadian, Belgian, Luxembourg) who took part in the liberation of the Merville site, through an exhibition of archives (insignia, uniforms, photographs, weapons, identity papers). These particularly touching personal effects are complemented by videos of interviews with surviving soldiers and solemn music, making the visit as didactic as it is poignant.
Would you like to find out more about American paratroopers? Discover this guided tour, which focuses on the 82nd and 101st Airborne in France.
Reliving D-Day
Several times a day, the site offers an immersive show to recreate the atmosphere of the attack on June 6, 1944. Announced by a siren, the sound and light projection reproduces the battle in a truly impressive way. You can see British soldiers struggling to regain control of the site. Being represented by shadows on the screen, it helps us understand the violence of the assault, without being too crude. Nevertheless, the content of the video remains very impressive, given the 1,000 bombs once dropped on the battery by the 109 aircraft and the German artillery fire in response.
Watch an archive film on June 6, 1944
We were curious to discover several black-and-white archive images of Allied paratrooper training. The film recalls the decisive role played by British gliders, but also their particularly vulnerable position, saluting their courage.
Visit an ammunition bunker
In this underground room, you’ll find the various munitions the German army used to supply casemates 1 and 2. We appreciated the period photographs to help us understand their layout.
Observe a period cannon
Built in 1940, this field gun required a crew of 6 men to operate and could fire shells weighing 11.4kg! We were impressed to be able to see it up close and observe the various subtleties of its mechanism.
The Merville Battery at Sword Beach: how to get there
Where to find the Merville Battery site
- In the town of Merville-Franceville
- Place du 9ème Bataillon
- 20min drive from Sword Beach, D-Day beach
- 12min drive from Cabourg
- 30min from Caen
Access by car and parking
The site is well served (via the A13 from Paris and the D514 and D515 from Caen), and free parking is available on site.
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.
Public transport access
There is a bus network in the area, but you’ll be limited in terms of times and possibilities to reach Merville-Franceville.
Visiting difficulties
It’s easy to get around the whole site, except for the distance from one casemate to the next.
Please note that sound and light immersion is not recommended for children under 8, or for people with heart or nervous disorders or claustrophobia.
The official website states that most of the estate and the museum are accessible to PRM.
MORE ABOUT THE D-Day sites
- The best landing sites to visit
- Visit the 5 D-Day landing beaches
- Where to stay – best hotels near the beach
- The best D-Day museums in Normandy
- German batteries to visit
- Car rental tips: Caen – Roissy-CDG – Orly – Beauvais
- Visit Omaha Beach
- Visit Utah Beach
- Visit Gold Beach
- Visit Sword Beach
- Visit Juno Beach (coming soon)
Visit the Merville Battery: useful tips
Schedules and prices
The site is open daily from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm and prices are as follows:
- Adult: €9.50
- Children (aged 8 to 16): €6
- Children (under 8): Free
See the latest news on the official website here.
How long
Allow 1h30 to explore the various bunkers, read the educational panels and enjoy the 20-minute immersive show. Don’t forget to take a look at the store, which offers a wide range of historical books and clothing celebrating D-Day.
Best moment
During the high season, we advise you to come early to avoid the tourist crowds and enjoy the site in contemplation. Also avoid Wednesdays, when school trips are scheduled. Otherwise, the site remains relatively unspoilt and can be visited freely.
Direction of visit
There is a set direction for the tour, which you can follow using the map (below) given to you at the entrance.
Visiting with children
We thought the Merville Battery Museum would be a good visit to make with your children. In addition to a special educational booklet for children (in the form of a quiz), there’s plenty to pique their curiosity, from the discovery of the bunkers to the recreated D-Day scenes in wax dolls, not forgetting the sound and light show. Please note, however, that this attraction is forbidden to children under 8.
Eating out
It’s just a 12-minute drive from Cabourg, which is packed with fine restaurants.
In particular, we recommend
- Le Baligan restaurant: for excellent seafood platters and tasty dishes where fish is the star. Friendly service to boot!
- Symbiose gourmet restaurant: if you’re looking for the exceptional, with tasty, original, multi-stage menus featuring the Normandy region!
- Brasserie Le Biquets: enjoy a refreshing drink with a beautiful sea view!
Alternatively, check out our article on the best restaurants in Caen, a 30-minute drive away.
For curious gourmets, we’ve also written an article on the 12 cheeses of Normandy (which we love!).
Hotels
We recommend the Manoir Hastings hotel, located between Caen and Ouistreham, and just a 12-minute drive from the Merville Battery. With its white stone buildings reflecting the authenticity of the region, Manoir Hastings offers a peaceful, picturesque atmosphere in which to relax. What’s more, the hotel boasts a gourmet restaurant that will delight gourmets.
See photos, prices and availability – and book!
See our selection of other hotels around the D-Day beaches here and our selection of hotels in Normandy below.
WHERE TO STAY IN Normandy
We particularly appreciate staying in Normandy:
- Bayeux – our hotels selection
- Honfleur – our hotel selection
For more ideas, take a look at our article on the best places to stay in Normandy.
And if you already have an idea, take a look at our selections:
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
