The museum entitled “Musee Memoires 39-45” (39-45 Memories Museum) lies very close to the lighthouse/abbey/church and sailors memorial of Pointe Saint-Mathieu. The whole museum is located inside a very big WWII German bunker.
The 5 floors in the German WWII bunker show all facets of life in these bunkers, but also life during WWII. In front of the museum is a large car park, and there’s another one across the road in case the normal one is full.
Outside you will already see several WWII objects:
Concrete shelter at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany
Landing craft at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in BrittanyInside the bunker
The bunker itself during WWII was the “The Graf Spee battery fire control post”. There are two bunkers connected by an underground passageway.
Inside the museum, underground, you can see how the Germans lived:
WWII German troops drinking and eating at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany
WWII German troop cleaning rifle at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany
WWII German shaving at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in BrittanyObviously, these photos are just a few examples of what you can see. Upstairs you will find several other areas of interest ranging from scale models of the bunker area…
Scale model of the WWII German bunker at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany
Scale model of the surrounding area of the WWII German bunker at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany… to other areas and floors that show you what it was like during WWII, from military positions and civilian ones, including all the uniforms used.
English and Scottish soldiers and their uniforms and equipment at the WWII German bunker at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany
German soldier and French civilian at the WWII German bunker at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in Brittany
German anti-aircraft position at the WWII German bunker at the 39-45 Memories Museum at Pointe Saint-Mathieu in BrittanyAt The Top
From the top floor of the bunker, not surprisingly, you have a great view of the area:
.. and to make it easier to see much further:
At the bottom
Below on the side of the bunker you can see several of the weapons used (cannons, mines, etc)
Conclusion
A visit to this museum is of order if you are in the area, and especially if you are a WWII buff.
The museum is well laid out and very interesting, even if the WWII is not your thing.
Click here to access the museum’s web site.
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