Somme 1916 Museum — Attraction in Péronne

A MUST SEE if you are in northern France. Located 34km from the location of main frontline it is a giant collection containing a wide variety of aspects including but not limited to:

1. Weapons and military equipment both in scrap form as well as restored
2. Photos (originals as well as 3D forms making you feel like you are in the middle of action)
3. Souvenirs from daily life (toiletries, food cans, booklets, leaflets, postcards etc...)
4. Brief but engaging descriptions explaining to you strategies and positions of both sides as well as challenges they had to face at the time
5. Comparison of different trech setups (layouts, function rooms, sentry and sniper setups, mortar and machinegun nests)
6. Breakdown of causes of death and effectivity of different means of warefare
7. Tying the battle with historical figures like the Prussian ACE "Red Barron"
8. Soldier passtimes like art and scrafts from scrap available at hand or light reading booklets

And much more...

I visited because I had time to spare and did not have all that much of an interest in the battle but spent 1.5h in a 350m underground tunnel stopping every 1m to read all there was.

One major advice! Before zou enter go to a toilet somewhere near because there is none at the entrance and the only one available is at the very end of the tunnel at ground level and you are not allowed back in once you...

If you need to gain an understanding of the conditions humans waged war across France from 1914 to 1918, this is your first point to start. The entrance is a nondescript plain door squat beside the basilica, there is free parking nearby next the church, the foyer is tiny by museum standards, guarded by mounted cavalry, ranks of soldiers from regiments local and far flung. Canadians, South Africans, Australian, New Zealand, Algerian, French, German with British. On display are ranks of brass shell cases reworked into mundane or exotic vases, umbrella stands maybe works of art created from violence. The museum is a long tunnel underground reached from a flight of brick stairs.

Case after case house the rusted war bric a brac parts of rifles, caltrop (vicious four way spikes designed to maim horses or foot soldiers) water canteens, parts of helmets. The story of the campaign local on the Somme or nearby focus on the regiments, tactics and technology used by the different forces, numerous oiled rifles, French, British, American. Bullets, machines guns; trench construction, living conditions. Finally a gruesome run-through tunnel the loud sounds explosions of war you'll not wander along but run...

Wonderful place with a lot of history. Old tunnel where the exhibition located gives you that special experience. It starts from the very informative 3d film and then you follow the tunnel. A lot to see and discover. As an extra you get a copy of the formal card with the soldier's name so in the end you can find the fate of that person. The last bit of the tunnel offers you a close experience of the trenches as you walking through, the light is dim and it goes darker when you hear the noise of explosions (recreated noise of the battlefield). In the end you get to the shop where they sell memorabilia and original items found on...