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Origin and history

The Museum of the Disembarkation of Arromanches-les-Bains was inaugurated on 5 June 1954 by René Coty, President of the Republic, at the initiative of Raymond Triboulet, first sub-prefect of liberated France. It is the first museum dedicated to the commemoration of June 6, 1944 and the Battle of Normandy. Its objective was to preserve the memory of the events related to Operation Neptune, including the installation of the Mulberry B artificial port, a key element of the Allied logistics.

Arromanches-les-Bains, a commune of Calvados in Normandy, was chosen for its central role during the landing. On 14 June 1944, the Allies installed a temporary artificial port, allowing landing of up to 22,000 tons of equipment per day. This harbour, composed of reinforced concrete caissons called Phoenix, was assembled offshore and connected to the earth by floating carriageways. The remains of these structures are still visible today.

The museum offers a four-part tour: a detailed presentation with animated models, an audio-visual diorama on D-Day, a free exhibition in the Allies lobby, and a 15-minute archive film depicting the construction and use of the port. The collections include objects, weapons, uniforms, and photographs of committed nations (English, Americans, Canadians).

The historic site is completed by the circular cinema Arromanches 360°, located on the cliffs, which dominates the remains of the port and the bay of Seine. This film features an immersive film about the 100 days of the Battle of Normandy, produced in collaboration with the Caen Memorial and funded by the Normandy Region. The film highlights preparations, landings, and fighting until the liberation of Le Havre in September 1944.

The creation of the museum is closely linked to François Carpentier, architect and mayor of Arromanches from 1963 to 1976, grandson of the inventor Jules Carpentier. The latter owned a villa in the commune, as did Sylvie Joly, whose father, Lucien Joly, was mayor after the war. The museum and circular cinema today form a major memorial ensemble, attracting visitors from all over the world.

In parallel, the commune houses other memorials, such as the D-Day 75 Garden, the Memorial Royal Engineers, and a statue of the Virgin Mary erected in 1911 for the centenary of a naval battle. These elements reinforce the historical and tourist character of Arromanches, a symbolic place for the liberation of Europe.

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