A powerful museum and preserved village tell the story of French citizens rounded up and executed…read moreby the Nazi's in June 1944. Men, women, children, entire families gone; 642 people in total. Bodies were burned and buried to try to hide the crime. I didn't know this history but now that I've been there I won't forget.

Many Americans have probably never heard of Oradour sur Glane or the "Martyred Village." They…read moreshould. It is sobering, and while I have seen most of France from living there and my numerous visits, this place has stayed with me like no other. It's an important reminder that not too many years ago, in still Nazi occupied France, on June 10, 1944, to be exact, the Nazi's brought death and destruction to some 642 inhabitants, men, women and children living in an idyllic, small French village. The women and children were locked inside the church whilst the Nazi's looted the town. The men were led and lined up within barns and were machine gunned down, as told from a survivor, they aimed for mens' legs and then the Nazi's then burned the barns down along with the men. Six men managed to escape. After the massacre of the men, the Nazi's lit the church on fire where they had earlier rounded up the women and children, murdering all but one woman who managed to escape. Following the massacre, the Germans returned to complete their destruction of the village and it stands today, they way it did some 71 years ago. General Charles De Gaulle is the force behind the idea to leave the village as it was. It was he who wanted the village to stand today as it did post-massacere as a memorial to the fallen. In 1999, President Jaques Chirac dedicated the formal memorial. When you visit, walk through the streets of the burned out village. You will see the charred reminders inside the remainders of the homes of the families whose home were burned and their lives snuffed out; rusty bed frames, old stoves, teapots, etc. Please take the time to visit he official yet small memorial where you can silently weep over an exhibit of personal items gathered from the victims such as soot covered and melted timepieces and lockets. You'll notice the timepieces all stop at roughly the same time... I challenge you to leave with dry eyes. 2015 - Review # 100 Addendum: what kind of messed-up person thinks this review is funny?

From the owner: L'histoire de la céramique Le musée national de porcelaine Adrien Dubouché retrace avec plus de…read more12000 objets, l'histoire mondiale du verre et de la céramique. Il expose la plus importante collection publique de porcelaine de Limoges. On peut également y admirer des chefs-d'oeuvre en poterie, grés et faïence. Adrien Dubouché était un industriel du cognac. Il fut directeur du musée à partir de 1865 et jusqu'à sa mort en 1881, et lui donna son nom en 1876.

Good stop when visiting caves. Lots of flints, some signs are in English. Animal displays are cool,…read moreand the museum continues along the hillside for great views.

Take a walk back through time Our tour guide brought us here…read morefor a tour of this museum. The collection, the documentation, the displays cataloged with a "Smithsonian" perfection were just overwhelming for the short period of time we were there. I understand this area of France is a little off the beaten path for the large American tour companies. This is a shame, the museum deserved much more time for discovery and contemplation. Even with so much use of French in the museum, a visitor can still be filled with a sense of wonder.

From the owner: La saga de la porcelaine Depuis 1853, date de fondation de la première usine, le nom d'Haviland se…read moreconfond avec celui de Limoges. Ce musée consacré à la maison Haviland et aux techniques de fabrication porcelainières (circuit vidéo de familiarisation) présente plus de 200 pièces prestigieuses de cette manufacture mondialement connue, dont vous pourrez acquérir quelques modèles dans la boutique.

From the owner: La vie de boucher Cet écomusée reconstitue le cadre de vie d'une famille de boucher du 18ème…read moresiècle. On découvre la boutique, ses accessoires, l'arrière-boutique, les salles réservées à l'abattage, les appartements des maîtres et des domestiques.

In the cosmic scheme of things, this is either a 5 (which it is in MY book) or a -5 (if you are a…read morestick in the mud), This is a classic Route 66 roadside attraction transported to France. It's funky. It's weird. It's a collection of odds and end of the last 150 years. It's an antidote to going to the Lourve in Paris. Started in the early 50's this place is a labor of love of a father and now a son. Located a short 8 km drive from the center of Poitiers this place is worth the 5 eruos it will cost you. Places like this need to live! Please... visit! 37 Av. de Châtellerault, 86440 Migné-Auxances

From the owner: Fourre-tout Il y en a partout, partout, sur 2 000 m2 en intérieur (3 salles) et extérieur : des…read morevoitures, du vieuxx matériel agricole, des jouets de la Belle Epoque, des uniformes de Poilus... plusieurs années de collectionnite aigüe sont condensées dans ce musée pas comme les autres tenu par Hélène Ribeiro (l'épouse de Manuel) et Jean-Claude (le fils). Une Renault berline de 1928 et une Simca 6 1948 avec un foultitude d'objets posés dessus, une calèche Victoria-Milord de 1870,... On lève les yeux : oh, une collection de galoches (chaussures de cuir et semelles de bois) et de sabarons ! Là une moto Terrot 250 cm3 1930 avec un bidon d'huile de la même marque sur le porte-bagage... Stop, on arrête. On va plutôt faire un petit jeu de cache-cache : pendant votre visite, cherchez l'hélicoptère Sikorsky 1945 et la roulotte de cirque pour nains de 1920...

I've been traveling to paper museums, and this particular museum is not necessarily the best for…read moreexplaining making paper, but its exhibition space is devoted to the art of paper. The particular exhibition April to December 2018 anticipates the centenary of the end of World War I, which will be commemorated November 11. The paper sculptures of WWI soldiers and the women they left behind are in the exhibition space. Not to be missed is the 12-minute film (English subtitles) created from these paper sculptures in a masterful stop action animated film. It is charming as well as tragic. A nice small boutique includes colorful graphics from the era when the factory rolled out cigarette papers after it became fashionable in 1850 France to "roll your own." The machinery on the first floor of the mill is signed, and there are some English translations. One sign notes the "master of the paper," Jacques Brejoux, who is in residence at another historic mill in the countryside: Moulin du Verger. He is still actively working on handmade paper and book restoration. (Call for an appointment to tour that mill.)

From the owner: Aux sources du papier Depuis 1988, ce musée retrace toute l'histoire du papier, et l'évolution des…read moretechniques industrielles de la papeterie dont la Charente fût longtemps le centre majeur. Installé dans l'ancienne papeterie J. Bardou (papier à cigarettes) construite sur la Charente, il présente sur deux étages et sous forme d'expositions temporaires diverses collections autour de ce thème. Un service documentaire et iconographique est à la disposition de tous, il suffit de demander.

Nice garden and tour of the Tower area. Also a chance to buy…read morethe estate wine. You can just visit the garden for a nice walk if you wish.

From the owner: Musée de la chemise Ouvert depuis 1993, le musée est installé dans un ancien atelier de lingerie…read moremécanique, créé en 1860 par Charles Brillaud. Il témoigne d'une mémoire industrielle encore active puisque plusieurs centaines de chemises sortent chaque jour des ateliers de confection argentonnais. La vocation du musée est d'être à la fois un pôle culturel, un pôle de recherche sur l'industrie de la confection et un conservatoire de produits. Vous découvrirez tois grands espaces pour trois thématiques : l'homme et la chemise, élégance masculine et tenues de circonstance, la chemiserie.