Le Grand Bunker - Atlantic Wall Museum

Le Grand Bunker is a 17-meter tall German fire direction post built in 1943 as part of the Atlantic Wall defenses at Ouistreham. The six-level concrete tower weighs 5,000 tonnes and served as the command center for coastal batteries guarding the Orne estuary. On D-Day, British commandos took four hours to breach its armored door before the garrison of 52 soldiers surrendered. Today's museum displays over 2,800 WWII artifacts across meticulously restored rooms including barracks, an infirmary, radio room, and ammunition depot. The top-floor observation post still contains the original German rangefinder, which visitors can use to scan the Bay of Seine. A PA 30-31 landing barge on display was later used in Steven Spielberg's film Saving Private Ryan. The museum operates with reduced hours from October to March and closes during early January through mid-February. The building is not wheelchair accessible due to its authentic military architecture.