Take a really moving trip. Every kilometer of the road will seduce you, you will travel in time to those times of war. Oradour-Sur-Glane is located in a corner of France. You will have the opportunity to know from the granaries to the churches that marked the history of humanity.
Activity / Place Highlights
Walkthrough the ruins of this city in the center of France. After the Second World War, the streets of Oradour were filled with rusted, burned and abandoned remains. As a result, today they are memories of the most tragic moments of the war.
While walking through the streets, you will see bicycles and rusty sewing machines, abandoned and burned granaries. Also, buildings, and cars, all abandoned. A train rail will guide you on the way, and you will miss admiring the stone houses on either side of the street. A city destroyed along with ruins full of history.
Many of the houses and buildings have a label that indicates whether the people who lived in it were a bakery, a butcher, a school, among other companies. The place is an intact monument to the thousands of people who lived in Oradour.
Mandatory stops
A place frozen in time, although most of the city is in the same conditions as decades ago, has been well cared for. In addition, you can reach the end of the city and visit the church. This church has two tragic and moving moments because in this the lives of more than 400 women and children in the city were lost. Therefore, you can see bullet holes in the walls and on the altar of the church.
There is a cemetery and next to it, a great monument for the 642 people who took his life. The names written on black marble tombstones. In addition, they also contain personal articles and their respective stories. On the other hand, there is a museum, you must pay to enter, in addition, they have a guide in English and French.
How to get there
The ruins of Oradour-Sur-Glane are located on a sloping slope 14 miles (22 km) northwest of Limoges, between St.-Junien and Belloc. The nearest airport is Limoges Airport (LIG). From the airport it is best reached by car to Oradour, it is only about 15 minutes away.
When to go
On weekdays in spring and autumn, fewer visitors are seen and the city is quieter and quieter, getting into everything it has to offer.
How Long
Get the maps of the ruins on the web. It is a small town, therefore, it does not take you long to know it completely. Also, in some areas access is not allowed, because in this way the areas are better maintained. So, in a day you can enjoy all this adventure.
Opening and Closing Hours
The opening hours of both the ruins and the Mémora Center in Oradour-sur-Glane are as follows:
- November 1 to February 29: 9am – 5pm
- March 1 to May 15: 9am – 6pm
- May 16 to September 15: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- September 16 to October 31: 9 am – 6 pm
- December 25 to January 1: Closed
Planning
The ruins have free access. However, if you want to enter the museum, you must check the entrances at the door. But, it is not advisable to go during lunch, because, it is possible that there is nobody to receive you. In addition, parking has no cost. For more information, you can visit the website. On the other hand, if you are looking for accommodation, in the next city, the new Oradour, there are several accommodation options.
Inside information
The church is one of the few buildings you can visit because the others are not allowed to access visitors, you can only see from the outside. Also, it is important to know that dogs are not allowed in the place. In addition, most areas of the ruins have access to wheelchairs, the church is not included.
History
Oradour-Sur-Glane, was a city full of life, cheerful, with its charming inhabitants. During the Second World War, on June 10, 1944, more than 600 people died in this city, almost the entire population. You can see the barns where about 200 local men were surrounded and shot, their bodies piled up and burned.
In addition to the local population, more than 100 refugees from Belgium and eastern France who had arrived in Oradour a few years earlier were included. In addition, the houses were looted and the city was burned down. As a result, 642 people were massacred. However, after France had been liberated, the government decided that the village should not be restored. He remained as he was after the departure of the troops.
Websites
Other Nearby attractions
Only about 21km from Oradour-Sur-Glane lies Limoges, capital of Limousin. This charming city of more than 2000 years, still retains its essence. You can visit the incredible Gothic cathedral of Saint-Étienne, the main monument of the city. In addition, you can walk and admire the beautiful gardens of the bishopric, next to the cathedral. Among the picturesque streets, the municipal museum, shops, squares and different features that make this a unique place.
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