Somme 1916 museum – Albert
Located in the heart of the battlefields of the Battles of the Somme (1914 -1918), the Somme 1916 Museum in Albert retraces the life of soldiers in the trenches during the Franco-British offensive of 1st July 1916.
Our museum is situated in a former 13th century underground tunnel that was converted into an air-raid shelter in 1938.
Following refurbishment work, the museum, which is 10 metres underground and some 250 metres long, was opened in July 1992. It retraces the life of soldiers in the trenches and especially during the offensive of 1st July 1916. About twenty display cases present period objects, material and weapons. They allow visitors to understand how weaponry evolved over time, and the appearance of new techniques such as gas and tanks.
It is with striking realism that over a dozen reconstructed scenes in the trenches illustrate the daily life of the soldiers (Irish shelter, gas alerts, first-aid station, Captain Nevill, etc.).
The visit continues with the reconstruction of a trench undergoing nighttime bombing (sound and visual effects). Lastly, before entering the souvenir shop where you can find a wide variety of poppy-themed products, numerous books in French and English as well as militaria, you will pass through the Gallery of Heroes, a permanent exhibition hall that presents, in an entertaining way, the life of nine men and women who stood out during the Great War.