Tucked away in the Norman countryside, Musée 44 La Percée du Bocage offers a moving journey back to the summer of 1944. This museum focuses on Operation Bluecoat, when British soldiers fought to break through the dense hedgerow country of Normandy. The museum’s 45-minute audioguide tour brings to life the stories of those who fought to liberate this region, making history accessible through sound and light effects.
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When you visit this memorial site in Saint-Martin-des-Besaces, you’ll find yourself immersed in the experiences of soldiers who participated in this crucial phase of the Normandy campaign. The museum complements its dramatic presentation with display cases and a detailed model that help visualize the battle landscape.
Open daily from 11am to 5pm, with final entry at 4:15pm, the museum offers tours in both English and French for international visitors.
Musée LA PERCEE DU BOCAGE
The Musée LA PERCEE DU BOCAGE is a touching memorial dedicated to British soldiers who fought to liberate the Normandy Bocage during Operation Bluecoat in July 1944. This small but powerful museum tells the story of how British forces broke through German defenses, eventually leading to the encirclement of the German 7th Army in the Falaise Pocket.
When you visit, you’ll experience eight different exhibit spaces and an engaging sound and light show. The 45-minute guided experience transports you back to the wartime period, covering both military operations and civilian life under occupation from 1939 to 1944. Tours are available in both English and French.
What makes this museum special is how it continues to grow through donations from veterans and their families. The personal artifacts and stories create an intimate connection to this pivotal moment in history. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how this military operation changed the course of World War II.
The museum is typically open weekends in spring and fall, with expanded hours during summer months. They also host special events like the Liberation Festival in July and participate in European Heritage Days with free admission in September.
Rating: 4.6 (126 reviews)
Location: 5 Rue du 19 Mars 1962, 14350 Souleuvre en Bocage, France
Contact: +33 2 31 67 52 78
Website: Visit Website
Historical Significance of Musée 44 La Percée du Bocage
The Musée 44 La Percée du Bocage stands as a powerful testament to the liberation efforts in Normandy’s Bocage region. This museum captures a critical moment in World War II history while honoring the British soldiers who fought to free Saint-Martin-des-Besaces and surrounding areas.
The Role in World War II
The museum focuses specifically on Operation Bluecoat, a key British offensive during the Battle of Normandy. You’ll discover how this operation helped break through the difficult Bocage terrain in late July and early August 1944. The museum highlights a remarkable story of a small reconnaissance group that ventured kilometers behind German lines to secure “Bull Bridge” – a daring mission that proved vital to the advance.
Through eight detailed exhibition areas and an immersive sound and light show, you can follow the British soldiers’ journey. Personal photographs, artifacts, and before-and-after images bring the liberation story to life.
The museum doesn’t just cover military strategy – it reveals the human side of war through personal accounts and references from those who lived through these events.
Preservation of Local Heritage
Beyond military history, the museum preserves the story of Saint-Martin-des-Besaces during the German occupation. You’ll gain insight into daily life in the village before, during, and after the war years.
The museum serves as a place of remembrance, connecting visitors to the sacrifices made by ordinary people in extraordinary times. By displaying both military and civilian perspectives, it creates a complete picture of this pivotal historical moment.
When you visit, you’ll notice how the museum connects past to present through comparative photographs showing locations “then and now.” This approach helps you better understand the physical impact of war on the landscape.
The Percée du Bocage museum ensures that local wartime experiences and sacrifices aren’t forgotten, preserving this chapter of Normandy’s heritage for future generations.
Exhibitions and Displays
The museum offers impressive exhibitions that bring the post-D-Day battles in Normandy’s bocage landscape to life. Through thoughtfully arranged displays and immersive experiences, visitors can gain deep insights into this crucial WWII period.
Interactive Experiences
As you walk through the museum, you’ll be guided by a 45-minute sound and light tour available in both English and French. This carefully choreographed experience leads you through eight distinct museographical areas that tell the story of the Bocage breakthrough.
The vast slide show is particularly impressive, using multimedia elements to help you understand the challenges faced by Allied forces. The layout forms a maze-like structure that mirrors the confusing nature of the hedgerow fighting that occurred here.
Don’t miss the final portion where light and sound combine to create a moving tribute to those who fought. The tour’s timing is precise, so plan to arrive no later than 4:15 PM to experience the full presentation.
Unique Artifacts
The museum houses an exceptional collection of items from the bocage campaign. Displays are centered around British soldiers with personal effects that humanize the historical events.
Military equipment, uniforms, and weapons are thoughtfully arranged to show the tactical challenges of fighting in the dense hedgerow countryside. Some visitors note being surprised by the extensive collection, as the modest exterior doesn’t hint at the treasures inside.
The artifacts are complemented by detailed information panels that provide context without overwhelming you. Personal stories attached to many items create emotional connections to the soldiers who fought here.
Look for the rare items specific to hedgerow combat. These help illustrate why this particular battlefield presented unique challenges to Allied forces.
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Other WW2 Museums in Normandy:
1944 Radar Museum
Airborne Museum Sainte-Merè-Église
Arromanches 360° Circular Cinema
Batterie d’Azeville
Batterie de Crisbecq
Bayeux Museum of the Battle of Normandy
Big Red One Assault Museum
D-Day Experience (Dead Man’s Corner)
Juno Beach Centre
Le Mémorial de Falaise – Les Civils dans la Guerre
Liberators Museum – Normandy 1944
Maisy Battery
Marcouf 44
Mémorial de Caen (Caen Memorial Museum)
Mémorial de Montormel
Mémorial Pegasus (Pegasus Bridge Museum)
Musée 44 La Percée du Bocage
Musée America Gold Beach (America-Gold Beach Museum)
Musée D-Day Omaha (D-Day Omaha Museum) Vierville-sur-Mer
Musée de la Bataille de Tilly-sur-Seulles
Musee de la Batterie de Merville
Musée de la Libération (Liberation Museum) Cherbourg
Musée des Epaves Sous-Marines
Musée du Débarquement (D-Day Museum) – Arromanches-les-Bains
Musée du Débarquement Utah Beach (Utah Beach Museum)
Musée du Mur de l’Atlantique
Musée Juin 44 L’Aigle
Museum Commando No. 4
Normandy Victory Museum
Omaha Beach Memorial Museum (Musée Mémorial d’Omaha Beach) Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer
Overlord Museum
World War II Museum Quinéville
