Musée des Blindes: Museum of Armored Vehicles – Saumur, France


British Comet - Churchil and Centaur Tanks - photo 2014
British Comet – Churchil and Centaur Tanks – photo 2014

Collection

Musée des Blindes in Saumur, France has an incredibly large collection of armored vehicles and tanks, if not the biggest. With over 880 tanks and vehicles fully restored and more than 200 of these in running condition, divided over 15 showroom halls, it is one of the most complete and extensive collections in the world.
You can view the collection ranging from the beginning of tank warfare divided into categories by Theatre of War, representing tanks and vehicles from France, United States, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden, countries of the former Soviet Union, Portugal, Israel, Brazil and so on.

French Schneider CA1 Tank from 1916 in running condition - photo 2014
French Schneider CA1 Tank from 1916 in running condition – photo 2014
A Collection of French World War Two Tanks - photo 2014
A Collection of French World War Two Tanks – photo 2014
German Panzer III, Panzer IV and Panzer VI Tiger I - photo 2014
German Panzer III, Panzer IV and Panzer VI Tiger I – photo 2014
German Panzer IV and Panzer VI Tiger I - photo 2014
German Panzer IV and Panzer VI Tiger I – photo 2014
Panzerkampfwagen V - Panther and Bergepanther Ausf. A in the back - photo 2014
Panzerkampfwagen V – Panther and Bergepanther Ausf. A in the back – photo 2014

Even though the museum has a vast collection, the tanks and vehicles have been set up with room enough to experience them from multiple sides and are not crammed as you sometimes find in other museums. Another big plus is that most of the information signs are in multi language including English, which is pretty unique considering this is a French museum.

Panzerjäger 38(t) für 7,62 cm PaK36(r) or Marder III and G13 Hetzer in the back - photo 2014
Panzerjäger 38(t) für 7,62 cm PaK36(r) or Marder III and G13 Hetzer in the back – photo 2014
Wespe Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf.) - Light Field Houwitser on Panzer II - Photo 2014
Wespe Leichte Feldhaubitze 18/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sf.) – Light Field Houwitser on Panzer II – Photo 2014
United States M26 Pershing tank - photo 2014
United States M26 Pershing tank – photo 2014
Soviet SU-100 Tank destroyer and the KV-1 - photo 2014
Soviet SU-100 Tank destroyer and the KV-1 – photo 2014

Guided tours

It is also possible to book a guided tour during working days, but be sure to book ahead of your visit as the number of participants is limited. We do not know if these tours include English guides.

King Tiger tank
Plenty to see outside on the museum square too. A King Tiger just parked. In the far right a German Panther tank in restoration (pic 2014)

Visit

Your visit will take up a good part of the day in this museum, 4 to 6 hours can be easily spend here. Check out the museum website for opening times.

Tank scraps
Still plenty in stock for the tank restoration team of Saumur

 



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