WW1 Museums on the Somme Battlefields, France

There are a number of public and private First World War museums on the battlefields of the Somme. There are collections ranging from rare battlefield relics and archive collections to original battlefield remains and commemorative sites.

In the list below click to show the place on the map or to expand the details.

Franco-Australian Museum

Villers-Bretonneux

49.86614199710635

2.517247796058655

Franco-Australian Museum

The museum was established by the Franco-Australian Association and was opened on ANZAC Day, 25^th April 1975. It is located on the first floor of the Victoria School.

Address: Franco-Australian Museum, 9 Rue Victoria, 80800 Villers-Bretonneux

Telephone or fax: +33 - (0)3 22 96 80 79

Website: www.museeaustralien.com
Historial de la Grande Guerre,

Péronne

49.929175666339354

2.931903

Historial de la Grande Guerre information page

Opened on 1^st August 1992 this is an international museum of comparative history. All presentations are made in three languages - French, English and German — to show the experiences of the major participants in the First World War and the impact of this conflict on the 20th century.

The museum displays show the visitor what life was like for the soldier in the front line trenches. The effect of the Great War on the civilian populations some of whom were forced to flee their homes is also an important part of the museum's exhibitions.
Le P'tit Train de la Haute Somme

Froissy
49.92341528699047

2.7311861515045166

This narrow gauge railway museum has a collection of about 20 locomotives and 25 wagons together with information on the use of the railway during WW1.

Tickets can also be purchased here to ride on the last remaining section of the large military narrow gauge network built during WW1 in preparation to supply the trenches with ammunition in the Somme offensive of 1916.

Web site: appeva.club.fr
Musée Somme 1916, Albert

Albert

50.00385981878213

2.6483649015426636

In tunnels 10 metres underground and 250 metres long this museum reconstructs realistic scenes from the lives of soldiers on the Somme battlefields.

The museum is in four languages (French, English, German and Dutch).

Rue Anicet Godin, 80300 ALBERT

Web site: www.somme-trench-museum.eu

Web site: www.musee-somme-1916.eu

Email: musee@somme1916.org
Museum to the South African Forces, Delville Wood

Longueval

50.02739657658006

2.8125107288360596

Museum to the South African Forces, Delville Wood

Located in the centre of Delville Wood, the museum commemorates the sacrifice of 25,000 South African volunteers, who lost their lives in two world wars and in Korea.

The museum was built as a replica of the star-shaped Dutch colonial Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town.
Newfoundland Park Visitor Centre

Beaumont Hamel

50.072245353586474

2.6484882831573486

Newfoundland Park Memorial

The Visitors' Centre is part of Newfoundland Memorial Park near Beaumont Hamel. The displays within the Centre focus on the historical and social situation of Newfoundland at the start of the 20^th century. It covers the history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment from when it was formed in 1914 to the end of the First World War.

There is a Memorial Room in the Visitor Centre with a copy of the Newfoundland Book of Remembrance. A number of personalities who served with the Regiment are portrayed along with other memorabilia and short video clips.
“Ocean Villas” WW1 & WW2 Museum

Auchonvillers

50.080237375701756

2.631739228963852

“Ocean Villas” WW1 and WW2 Museum

The museum comprises a collection of rare and important militaria and memorabilia from the First and Second World Wars.

Housed in a refurbished building next to Avril Williams' “Ocean Villas” Guest House and Tea Rooms, it is the only military collection on the Somme battlefields which comprises First and Second World War artefacts. This museum at Auchonvillers was opened on 1^st July 2008.

“Ocean Villas” Museum, 10, rue Delattre, 80560 Auchonvillers, France
Thiepval Visitor Centre

Thiepval

50.05256114362967

2.688131332397461

Thiepval Visitor Centre

The Visitor Centre provides a place for the thousands of visitors to the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing where the memorial is put in the context of the battlefield.
The Ulster Memorial Tower Visitor Centre

Thiepval

50.061378023600675

2.6804709434509277

Ulster Memorial Tower Visitor Centre

The Visitor Centre comprises a small museum of display cases containing artefacts recovered from the Somme battlefields, and most particularly items related to the soldiers of the 36th (Ulster) Division.