Musée Somme 1916

About the museum

The Musée Somme 1916 was born at the end of 1991 from the town of Albert’s wish to pay tribute to the combatants of 1914–1918. A team led by Thierry Gourlin, then head of the town’s main fire station, carried the project through. The museum opened on July 1, 1992 and received around 10,000 visitors in its first year.

It occupies the largest of the seven shelters the town hall had built before the Second World War to protect the population: a gallery about 250 metres long, some ten metres underground, which links the basilica to the Arborétum-Jardin public. A six-month job-creation scheme restored the old underground passage, and the foundation stone of the reception building was laid on May 28, 1994.

The long corridor and its alcoves recreate life in the trenches, with some fifteen reconstructed scenes. The museum enriches its scenes each year during the winter closure. Attendance reached about 90,000 visitors in 2014, most of them English-speaking tourists.

Highlights

• 250-metre underground air-raid shelter beneath the basilica of Albert
• Some fifteen re-created trench scenes
• Sound-and-light corridor that simulates a night under bombardment
• Gallery of Heroes with nine figures of the First World War
• Guided tours of the Somme battlefields

Permanent exhibitions

• Parcours souterrain – Some fifteen re-created trench scenes and display cases of period objects in a 250-metre gallery.
• Galerie des Héros – Presentation of nine figures of the First World War.

Founded

1992

Visitors per year

approx. 54,000

Admission & discounts

Payment in cash, by bank card (except American Express), contactless, by cheque or Chèques-Vacances. The museum also offers deals with the Pass Musées 14-18 and the Pass Culture.

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

The museum is not accessible to wheelchair users: it occupies a former Second World War shelter about 10 metres underground, reached by 62 steps. Dogs are not admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly: not available

Family rate of €22 for 2 adults and 2 children. The Gallery of Heroes presents nine figures of the First World War in a playful way. The museum is underground and reached by a staircase, so pushchairs cannot get in.

Getting there & parking

The museum entrance is at the foot of the basilica, Rue Anicet Godin. By car: exit 14 or 13.1 of the A1 motorway. About 30 minutes from Amiens, 45 minutes from Arras, 1 hour from Lille and 1 hour 30 minutes from Paris.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Souvenir shop with key rings, mugs, magnets, porcelain, local products, militaria, and books in French and English on the First World War and the Battle of the Somme, including children’s books. The museum is kept at 19 °C.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit