Musée de la Libération
Museum housed in the Fort du Roule, telling the story of the Occupation, the D-Day landings and the role of Cherbourg, the first port liberated in 1944.
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About the museum
The Musée de la Libération occupies the Fort du Roule, overlooking Cherbourg at an altitude of 117 meters. A first fortress existed there as early as 1793; the present fort was rebuilt under Napoleon III between 1853 and 1857. Despite its strategic position, it never played a decisive role in the defense of the town: in 1940 as in 1944, it fell within a few hours or two days at most.
The museum was inaugurated on June 6, 1954 in the presence of President René Coty. It is among the very first places of memory of the Second World War in France. Its original collections came from equipment donated by the West Point Military Museum in the United States, later supplemented by purchases and gifts from private individuals.
The route is spread over two levels. The basement, shrouded in semi-darkness, evokes the Occupation between 1940 and 1944: the daily life of civilians, propaganda, the Atlantic Wall and youth under the Vichy and Third Reich regimes. The upper floor is devoted to the Landings and the Liberation, to the role of the port of Cherbourg, liberated on June 26, 1944 and becoming the bridgehead for Allied supplies, to prisoners of war and to the American soldier. The exhibition design evolves continuously and includes a digital display on the strategic sites of the Liberation.
Highlights
- Cherbourg, the first port liberated in June 1944
- Daily life of civilians under the Occupation
- The Atlantic Wall and the Landings
- Equipment of the American soldier
- Multimedia display on the seven strategic sites of the Liberation
- Room on the history of the Montagne du Roule and its fort
Permanent exhibition
- Parcours permanent du musée de la Libération – Twelve rooms over two levels trace the Occupation, the Landings and the Liberation of Cherbourg.
- Founded
- 1954
- Operated by
- Ville de Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Visitors per year
- approx. 15,691
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Groups of 10 people or more, holders of the Pass’Avantages Manche, visitors of the Port Chantereyne with the coupon from the Guide de l’escale, holders of the Explore Normandy Pass |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 25 · Free for visitors under 26 upon presentation of a supporting document. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free for people with disabilities and their companion, on proof. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree for students on proof. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3 per personReduced rate per visitor. Accompanied school groups are free of charge. |
| Public animation (commented tour, per person over 26) | €7Free for under-26s and subject to the other conditions of the City’s museums; by reservation. |
| Animation for children aged 2 to 11 (per child) | €3Free for up to 2 accompanying adults. |
| Pass musées Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (1 year, Musée de la Libération and Musée Thomas Henry) | €10Unlimited admission for one year. |
Free admission: Every Wednesday; May 8, June 6, November 11 and the weekend in June that commemorates the Liberation of Cherbourg.
Free on proof for students, recipients of minimum social benefits, job seekers, veterans, members of the armed forces, members of the Société des Amis des Musées et des Monuments de Cherbourg et du Cotentin, holders of the Muséopass or an ICOM/ICOMOS card, and professionals in culture, education and communication. A guided group tour with a museum guide costs €70 per group (admission not included).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 25 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers activities for children aged 2 to 11 (€3 per child) and an educational service for classes from nursery school to upper secondary school (lycée).
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Cap Cotentin bus network (capcotentin.fr).
By car
Parking available
Parking at the foot and at the top of the Montagne du Roule (limited spaces at the top); another option: the parking area on Place Jacques Demy, then walk through the public garden.
The museum is located in the Fort du Roule, Montée des Résistants. From the SNCF station, allow 25 minutes on foot according to the museum brochure.
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. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Events and guided tours are by reservation at 02 33 20 14 12 or by email at musees@cherbourg.fr. A free audio trail with testimonies, accessible by QR codes, lines the climb of the Montée des Résistants up to the fort. |
