Yes, we went a couple of years ago. Very moving but not depressing if you know what I mean. It was busy when we were there but people spoke quietly and respected the site and there is a very (mostly underground) good visitors centre.
It was the little things that struck us - the sewing machines in almost every ruined house, steel bedframes, bicycles etc. Well worth a visit I would say
Perhaps you could leave hubby in a bar in the nearby "new " village?
Big visitors centre there, almost a tourist attraction, like the cemetery's in Normandy, made us feel a bit uncomfortable, because of the tourist attraction aspect, yet we was as guilty off adding to it by going there, still a fascinating place to visit
------------- TomnGill
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We were there in March this year. we did not find it "touristy" at all, the information centre (BTW thats the part you have to pay to go in 7euro per adult, but entry to the "village" is free) we found very informative.
The village is now a national monument and is very moving, but not depressing, well worth a visit, don't miss the underground exhibition (uderground as in below ground, not the French resistance) up by the cemetary.
To think that this happened just 4 days after d day, it was our first visit to Oradour sur Glane & 4 months on I'm still asking myself the question "WHY"? just shows mans inhumanity to man!
------------- GeorgeB
I'm a Grumpa....its just like being a Grandpa..only grumpier!
I don't think anyone should feel guilty about going - after all the French left it just as it was, to show people just what happened. If they had wanted it to be forgotten they would have just rebuilt the village on the original foundations, and no-one would ever have known. It's there for the people who lived there to be remembered, and for those who visit to try to make sure that such things will never happen again.
We went last year, definitely not touristy. Very moving, as has been said, but I didn't feel the way I thought I would, if that makes any sense. Not to be missed!
Thanks folks. I like the idea of leaving hubby in a bar! He's read all your views and is now trying to tell me it's too far from our campsite. It's not, loads of people from there go (we've used the site before)
Hi, This is somewhere I would like to visit as several members of my family worked for the resisance in France during the war. Could you please advise me as to what sort of age you feel children should be before going here. Our two boys are 9 and 11 and have listened to stories from my family in France about what it was like living in the occupied zone during the war but my gut feeling is they are still too young to go to Oradour. I know at the end of the day it is what we are comfortable with but any advice would be much appreciated.
I can't see any reason why your 11 and 9 year old children shouldn't go, even if they're not familiar with the Nazi occupation of France. I wouldn'r particularly want to see toddlers crashing around though as I think you'd need to preserve the air of 'reverence' the site deserves.
------------- Johnny Hamster
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We have recently visited Oradour-sur-Glane. I bought a book, which I found to be more disturbing than the visit to the ruined village. The book has photographs of the victims, and personal accounts written around the time. The village itself certainly wasn't as moving as the large military cemetries we have visited on previous occasions.
I put this down to the fact that it now has the appearance of a decaying, deserted village, which could have fallen into ts present state for any number of reasons. And the cemetry itself has a very similar ambience to most other French cemetries.
By comparison, I found the small monument in Romieu, in memory of five members of the French Resistance who were executed by the Germans, to be more poignant.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Oradour sur Glane
