Museum of the Liberation (Musée de la Libération)
About Museum of the Liberation (Musée de la Libération)
The Musée de la Libération occupies Fort du Roule, a 19th-century fortress perched 117 meters above Cherbourg harbor on the Montagne du Roule. Inaugurated on June 6, 1954, it was France's first museum dedicated to WWII liberation, opened just ten years after American forces captured the fort from German occupiers on June 26, 1944. The 780-square-meter exhibition space displays around 500 objects and documents covering civilian and military life during the occupation, resistance activities, and the liberation of Normandy. Visitors can explore the museum galleries, walk through the original German ammunition tunnels, and access outdoor viewing platforms offering panoramic views of the port and roadstead. The site has special significance as Cherbourg was the first major deep-water port liberated by Allied forces, making it crucial for supplying the invasion of Europe. Note that the museum has a midday closure on weekdays and an annual winter closure from mid-November to early February. Free entry on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Interesting Facts
The fortress follows a military saying that dates back centuries: "Qui tient le Roule, tient Cherbourg" (Who controls the Roule, controls Cherbourg). This strategic principle proved true in 1944 when fierce fighting for the fort was one of the final obstacles before the city's liberation.
During World War II, the Germans built an extensive network of underground tunnels into the rock beneath the fort to store ammunition and shelter troops. These original tunnels are now open to visitors and contain exhibits on German fortification engineering along the Atlantic Wall.
The museum was inaugurated by President René Coty on the 10th anniversary of D-Day, making it one of the earliest WWII memorial sites in Europe. The initial concept for the museum was proposed as early as 1949, just five years after the war ended.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
General Admission
RecommendedLocation & Practical Info
Address
Fort du Roule, Montée des Résistants, 50100 Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France
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