Overlord Museum

The Overlord Museum is located just outside Colleville-sur-Mer, near the D514 roundabout that leads to the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. The museum is easy to spot from the road, marked by an impressive collection of tanks including an M4 Sherman, a Sexton self-propelled gun, and an M32B1 recovery vehicle positioned along the entrance drive.

The museum presents the story of the Allied landings and the wider Battle of Normandy through to the liberation of Paris. Its exhibits are arranged chronologically and focus on the six armies involved in the D-Day operations, with a strong emphasis on visual storytelling through large-scale dioramas.

Inside, visitors will find over 10,000 original objects, including more than 40 restored vehicles, artillery pieces, and soft-skinned transport trucks. Highlights include a reconnaissance aircraft, a V1 flying bomb, and a wide array of uniforms, equipment, and personal items used by both Allied and Axis forces. Many of the vehicles have been fully restored and equipped to their wartime specifications, offering an authentic representation of the military technology used during the campaign.

The museum’s layout and use of lifelike scenes make it accessible to a wide range of visitors, from military history enthusiasts to families. It provides a compelling overview of the scale and complexity of the operations in Normandy, particularly those centered around Omaha Beach.