Back to Saumur

The Tank Museum in Saumur is located near the town centre and is well signposted from the visitor information centre making it easy to find.
The Museum has the worlds largest collection - with some 200 exhibits ranging from the 1st World war to contemporary Israeli battle tanks on display at any one time. They are able to change their display annually having over 800 examples at their disposal!

Why is it here? The French cavalry school has been in Saumur since 1768 and of course cavalry regiments have long since abandoned the horse in favour of horse power, so we now have the location for the French tank school. The collection was started by gathering deserted post war tanks from the battlefields for study programmes and took off from there.

What they have here is the perfect attraction for boys large and small but the one thing wrong with the museum is that it is managed by armour enthusiasts! Its technical when it should be entertaining and formal when it should be "Lets climb on board". You or your kids can't do what your desperate to do, which is a great shame. Out of all the models they have surely some could be made available to have 'the tank experience'. Who wouldn't want to sit up front or poke their head up through the hatch --except maybe the girls.
You get a brief historical interpretation of each exhibit which includes an English version.

There is a modest cafe with a vending machine and a shop selling military related items - the women might have to spend longer in here than they would like but at least it offers some refuge.

The museum staff speaks English, and you can call them at 0033-241530699, or email museedesblindés@wanadoo.fr to find out when their next “live” exhibition takes place.

Details:
Open every day except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. October to April 10am to 5pm, May to September 9.30am to 5.30pm. Prices: adults 6€, children (7 - 13) 3.50€.

The museum is accessible to pushchairs and wheelchairs!