Musée Militaire du Périgord — Attraction in Périgueux

Special interest museum in the center of town. Interesting place to browse and let your mind wander a little. This small museum based on a large collection of medals, insignia, flags, military uniforms, helmets, badges, and weaponry ranging from sables, pistols and canon, to a sea-mine and a German flying bomb… A bit dusty, but to give it a positive spin; you will find the content well compensating what the presentation lacks (though that might take some effort, prior knowledge and a little interest).

The collection started out to commemorate the Prussian war, but sprawled in all directions and now includes materials related to the Napoleonic area, Crimean war, the world wars, French colonial deployments as well as later UN missions. There is a lot of material on display, some given context, much of the collection is just that. You will find what you look for, or chance upon some campaigns you never heard of, but do not expect much guidance or storytelling. It is an amazing collection of smaller collections, maybe a bit too much material for such little space.

The amount of medals on display somehow makes you question the value of these ‘awards’, some have an eerie way of recurring. The current events on the Crimea, mirror the Crimean War medials, and some unexpected Nazi paraphernalia awarded for their campaign in the Crimea, including the an original poster advertising ‘the opportunity to go and fight Bolshevism in the east’ (in French). A contemporary print shows Napoleon handing out medals to kneeling subjects (in a posture that makes the present day viewer wonder who’s honoring who). There was an interesting special exhibition of art from the WWI trenches with drawings...

I really didn't know what to expect when we first walked in but was pleasantly surprised by just how much stuff there is to see within it. At times it felt like entering the TARDIS or something. I wasn't a big fan of the area which contained a lot of Nazi uniforms/flags etc as I felt it was outside of the military museum scope and somewhat idolised the items. That being said I can understand the historical significance and why you may want to see them.

The mannequins are fantastically...

I would definitely recommend a visit to this Museum. It is an eye-opener to the wars of the world, dating way back in history, the glory and the horrors. It is an education for all ages. We have been 3 times, and always find something we have missed on previous visits. The man on reception is more than helpful, offering translation pamphlets and guidance on the route to follow. A must on a visit...