Musée des Blindés, Military museum in Saumur, France
The Musée des Blindés is a tank museum on route de Fontevraud in Saumur, named after General Jean-Baptiste Eugène Estienne, creator of the French tank arm. Its 22,000 m² building, bought from SEITA and refitted by the Ministry of Defence, holds over 800 vehicles in 11 themed rooms, from a Schneider CA1 to a Leclerc. Outside, a park of wrecked vehicles awaits restoration.
The museum was founded in 1977 to preserve French armored vehicles and technical knowledge. Over time, the collection expanded to include military machines from many countries, leading to a move to larger facilities.
The collection invites visitors to understand how machines shaped military strategy and warfare across generations. Walking through the halls, one sees how nations designed and built their armored vehicles to match their tactical needs.
The museum is located in the Loire Valley and features well-organized exhibition spaces that are easy to navigate. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as there is much ground to cover and the layout is spacious.
The museum's German hall holds 28 vehicles, among them a 70-tonne Tiger II that is the last of its kind still able to run. It appears in the summer Carrousel demonstrations, when restored vehicles are driven before the public. The same hall contains Marder I and III tank destroyers, a Jagdpanther and two Panthers.
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