Mémorial 39/45 de Saint-Malo

About the museum

The Mémorial 39/45 was created in 1994 by the City of Saint-Malo. It occupies a group of German bunkers built in the courtyard of the former Cité d'Alet fort, on the Alet peninsula. This 18th-century artillery fort was designed by engineer Mazin after 1759 to defend the bay, the harbor and the Rance estuary.

After the 1940 invasion, the Germans turned Saint-Malo into a fortress of the Atlantic Wall. Between 1942 and 1944, the Organisation Todt transformed the peninsula into a vast construction site: an artillery battery, a command post, barracks for about 200 men, 32 bunkers and 8 visible armored turrets, linked by 1,350 meters of underground tunnels that cannot be visited.

In August 1944, the US 83rd Infantry Division surrounded the Cité d'Alet. After heavy bombardment and two deadly assaults, the position surrendered on August 17.

The memorial can only be visited with a guide. The “Histoire” route takes place in the anti-aircraft defense bunker over three levels, with a collection of about 1,500 objects. It covers the 1940 invasion, the use of the port, the construction of the bunkers, the Cité d'Alet, the battle for liberation, Cézembre and the reconstruction of the city. The “Découverte des fortifications” route leads inside and outside, to the fort, the steel turrets, a machine-gun bunker and a restored fire control post.

Highlights

• Three-level anti-aircraft bunker with about 1,500 objects
• “Découverte des fortifications” route with steel turrets and fire control post
• 18th-century artillery fort, Cité d'Alet
• “La bataille de Saint-Malo” film shown during some tours

Permanent exhibitions

• Parcours « Histoire » – Guided tour of the three-level anti-aircraft bunker, covering the occupation, the bunkers, the liberation and the reconstruction of Saint-Malo.
• Parcours « Découverte des fortifications » – Guided tour inside and outside: 18th-century fort, steel turrets, machine-gun bunker and fire control post.

Founded

1994

Operated by

Ville de Saint-Malo

Admission & discounts

Prices per person for a guided tour. Free admission for military personnel, school groups from the Saint-Malo arrondissement, group companions, registered job seekers and RSA recipients, on proof.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The memorial is located in the Cité d'Alet fort, on the Alet peninsula in Saint-Malo.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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