Mémorial des bunkers de Pignerolle
Association museum in the German bunkers of the Pignerolle park near Angers, with free guided tours by volunteers, by reservation.
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About the museum
The Pignerolle château was built from 1776 for Marcel Avril de Pignerolle, a gentleman of King Louis XVI, by the Angevin architect Michel Bardoul de la Bigotière. This neoclassical replica of the Petit Trianon later became the residence of the mayors of Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou. From October 1939, the château housed the president of exiled Poland and his government, until June 1940.
In July 1940, the German army occupied the estate. From May 1942, the Organisation Todt built a camp there with ten bunkers, plus an eleventh at the entrance to the town, along with about thirty huts. The site was meant to house the headquarters of the Kriegsmarine submarine service; it ultimately housed the U-boat Command West, from which coded messages were sent to the submarine flotillas. German troops left the site in August 1944.
After the war, the huts were used to rehouse people who had been bombed out of Angers. The association Mémorial des bunkers de Pignerolle has organized guided tours since 2016. They reveal a Kriegsmarine headquarters, bunkers from the Battle of the Atlantic, and the site chosen by the French government as an anti-nuclear shelter for General de Gaulle during the Cold War.
Highlights
- Eleven bunkers from the Battle of the Atlantic, including the admiral's bunker
- Kriegsmarine headquarters from which coded messages were sent to submarine flotillas
- Former anti-nuclear shelter intended for General de Gaulle during the Cold War
- Free guided tours by volunteers passionate about history
- Virtual tour of the admiral's bunker online
- Operated by
- Association du Mémorial des bunkers de Pignerolle
- Visitors per year
- approx. 7,000 (2018)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free tours with optional donation. Donations can be made at the end of the tour, including by bank card, with a tax receipt on request. Park access is free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
According to the Angers tourist office, the tour is not accessible by wheelchair; it is possible with assistance for visually impaired visitors.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 7+
Recommended age: from 7 years old.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
Free parking for cars, bicycles, motorhomes and coaches.
The site is located in the Pignerolle park in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, about five minutes from Angers.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Reservation required. The tour lasts about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes. Please bring comfortable shoes, a flashlight and a warm or rain jacket, as the inside of the bunkers is cool. If you cannot attend, please let us know at least half a day before the visit. For school groups, a preliminary visit is offered to teachers. |
