Le Grand Bunker – Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique

About the museum

The Grand Bunker is the former command and fire-direction post of Riva-Bella in Ouistreham. It was part of the Atlantic Wall, the system of fortifications built by Germany during the Second World War. This 17-meter-high Sonderkonstruktion structure controlled the defense of the Orne estuary on the eve of the Landings. It is the last visible vestige of the most powerful German coastal battery in the sector and has been listed as a historic monument since 1994.

After belonging to the French Navy (Marine nationale), the bunker was fully renovated by its founders to recover its original appearance, and it now houses a museum dedicated to the Atlantic Wall in Normandy. The museum has been open again since February 5, 2022.

The visit takes place over five levels, where the rooms have been reconstructed down to the smallest detail with authentic equipment: machine rooms, filter room, flanking casemates, barracks room, infirmary, armory, radio room and an observation post with a rangefinder that offers a view of the Bay of the Seine up to 40 km away. One room is devoted to the scale of the Atlantic Wall construction site, which employed more than two million workers over three years. The museum also carries out archaeological digs on wartime remains, which enrich its collections.

Highlights

• 17-meter-high bunker visited across five levels
• Rooms reconstructed with authentic equipment: radio, infirmary, armory, machine room
• Observation post with rangefinder and a view over the Bay of the Seine
• Room devoted to the Atlantic Wall construction site
• Virtual tour available on the website

Permanent exhibition

• Le Grand Bunker et le Mur de l'Atlantique – Five-level visit through the reconstructed rooms of the fire-direction post, with an observation post fitted with a rangefinder.

Admission & discounts

Full price of €8.50 for adults and children over 13. Payment by bank card, in cash, by holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances), culture vouchers (chèques culture) or gift vouchers.

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

Because of its architecture, the visit cannot be adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on avenue du 6 Juin in Ouistreham.

Amenities & dining

Small pets are admitted if they are carried or in a carrier bag; for large dogs, you must telephone the museum beforehand to arrange admission.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit