Once again, back to my sentimental Meaux , Seine et Marne dept 77 of the Île de France region,. I have visited the museum a couple times and it is hightly recommended especially for those who have no time to reach the battlefields or cementeries themselves; this is a worthy alternative. I like to tell you more with new older pictures from my cd rom vault for you and me, Therefore, here is my take again on the Great War (WWI) museum of Meaux, part II !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
Meaux is a wonderful town on the banks of the Marne river not far from Paris nor Disneyland. It is where all started for me in France as married a native, told many times in my posts. Of course, many times here if not visiting the town, visiting the still family there around small villages. However, the main reason I came back this time as a visitor, if I can say that is to see the Great War or WWI Museum . The Musée de la Grande Guerre. It is on the road we normally take route de Varennes to visit friends and family , but it is within Meaux city limits. There you see outside of it, a huge American monument or Monument Americain, a gift of the people of the USA to France honoring the soldiers of the expeditionary force of Gen Pershing in WWI. A must to see, me think.
The tour is deliberately open and unconstrained: this allows each visitor to make their own journey, thus building their own story. The main tour, which presents symmetrically the Battle of the Marne of 1914 and that of 1918, clearly translates for the visitor the transition from the 19C to the 20C. Between these two great battles of movement at the beginning and end of the war, the presentation of the war of position with its front made up of trenches explains the notion of being bogged down. This space deployed in the great nave of the museum allows for the presentation of large equipment trucks, planes, tanks, artillery pieces, etc.), making the museum the unique place where one can discover the diversity of objects and documents that bear witness to the conflict. This main tour is complemented by a thematic tour: eight spaces address topics that are cross-cutting to the conflict (a new war, bodies and suffering, globalization, a mobilized society, etc. multiplying the entry points. The museography is different for each of the spaces, thus breaking the monotony of discovery and creating atmospheres that revive the visitor’s interest. Obviously, the collection object is at the heart of the museum: it makes sense, it takes on meaning in its relationship to the space and in the dialogue it establishes with all the mediation supports to, ultimately, touch the visitor and question him or her about his or her own memory. As we awaken interest, as we arouse curiosity, the museum leads each person to question his or her own personal history. The Museum of the Great War of the Pays de Meaux is today an essential place to discover the history of the First World War and the territory has become a destination for memory tourism.
The official museum of the Great War of Meaux : https://www.museedelagrandeguerre.com/en/home/
The local Pays de Meaux tourist office on the museum: https://www.meaux-marne-ourcq.com/en/discover/must-see-places/great-war-museum/688890_musee-de-la-grande-guerre/
The Seine et Marne dept 77 tourist office on the Great War museum : https://www.tourisme-seine-et-marne.fr/visiter-decouvrir/688890-musee-grande-guerre/#
The Île de France region on the great war museum : https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/great-war-museum-pays-de-meaux
The official routes of memories on the Great War museum : https://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/fr/musee-de-la-grande-guerre-meaux
There you go folks, something worth your time and money to get you out of Paris and into my sentimental Meaux. The Great War museum is a monument to the world and a must to see me think, me encourage you, me recommended it. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Great War (WWI) museum of Meaux, part II !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 