Le Mémorial de Caen

Just a stone’s throw from the D-Day beaches, the Caen Memorial is one of Europe’s largest contemporary museums. It offers a gripping immersion in 20th-century history, from the Second World War to the end of the Cold War.

From May 2027, discover a major semi-permanent exhibition dedicated to the universal values of the D-Day beaches. To mark their designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Caen Memorial offers a fresh perspective on how the memory of the D-Day landings has evolved since 1944 and on its close link with the transformations of the contemporary world. From 1944 to the present day, the significance attributed to 6 June has continually evolved: a celebration of a military victory in the aftermath of the war, an affirmation of freedom during the Cold War, a symbol of European reconciliation after 1989, and subsequently a message of peace and dialogue between nations. Through a chronological and immersive journey, the exhibition reveals how an event that has become a universal symbol of freedom and peace continues to reflect the major changes in our world.

An invaluable photographic record: the Patrick Chauvel collection exhibition! This permanent exhibition, which is free to visit, traces the career of the renowned war correspondent who has covered conflicts that have erupted all over the world over the last 50 years.

The film ‘Europe, Our History’, screened in 360°. A unique visual and auditory experience to help us understand our shared European history (screening included in the museum admission ticket).