Post by sunshine817 on Nov 12, 2011 10:30:54 GMT -5
We went to the new museum to the WWI this morning, along with approximately half the population of France....
The building is brand new and purpose built for the exhibits - it sits just on the outskirts of Meaux, about 30 miles east of Paris.
The collection was built by a private individual, who collected 50,000 items over a 40-year period. It covers all facets of the war -- along with the requisite uniforms and artillery, items about civilian life, how the soldiers lived, the entry of the Americans into the war, the role of women, and health care, among other areas. (The French government bought the whole lot for 600,000 Euros...given the amazing condition of the items and the sheer number of them, I'm not so sure he got a great deal.)
The pieces are in absolutely stellar condition -- flags still vibrant, uniforms nearly completely intact -- even a small tank emerging from the floor.
This morning, there were uniformed reenactors representing all of the countries who fought in the war (only one American!), including Turkish, Moroccan, German, Scottish, and English -- and even one from southeast Asia (I had NO idea there were that many countries that participated...) I'll try to upload some photos -- unfortunately, they were on the east side of the building, so I was shooting into the sun much of the time, leaving my photos washed out.
The exhibit actually starts at the end of the Franco-Prussian conflict of 1870, then continues to set the stage for WWI and continues just into the years between the wars.
Unfortunately, it was wall to wall people -- we walked a kilometre from the first available parking lot, then stood in line for two hours to get into the museum, which, at 30,000 square feet (3000 sq m) isn't big enough to spend an entire day poking around. The crush of people meant that our patience was wearing thin, and we didn't have time to look at the artifacts in anywhere near the time that would would have preferred to take. (The employees were more than sympathetic -- making their way down the enormous line with boxes of pastries and thermoses of coffee for the visitors.)
If you are at all interested in WWI history -- all facets of it -- it's a fantastic new museum. There are even reproductions of trenches - both an open trench, and a closed trench complete with bunks, all smelling of fresh paint.
The bad news? It's not easy to get to -- you could take the Paris Est line from Gare de l'Est to Meaux. From Gare de Meaux the M6 bus will take you to the museum, or a 10-minute cab ride (although having a cab to collect you for the return to the station could be an adventure!)
The worst is that it's going to be a mess to get there from Disney -- first a bus from Disney to Gare de Meaux (30 min), then the M6 bus to the outskirts of Meaux, as it absolutely is not walking distance from the station. They're expecting 80,000-100,000 visitors per year, but I think they're overestimating how many people are going to make the trip and then spend the 10E for adults for admission.
Meaux has a gorgeous cathedral, the remains of the original ramparts (dating back to the Romans), a good museum (Musee Bossuet, next door to the cathedral) and good marches (remember this is the home of Brie de Meaux...) with some decent restaurants near the river, so it's a good day out.
We very likely will return after the hubbub dies down to take our time absorbing the exhibits -- there's a coffee bar and lockers on site.
So the upshot? Terrific museum with an astonishing number of artifacts in pristine condition, and worth a visit IF you can get there.
The building is brand new and purpose built for the exhibits - it sits just on the outskirts of Meaux, about 30 miles east of Paris.
The collection was built by a private individual, who collected 50,000 items over a 40-year period. It covers all facets of the war -- along with the requisite uniforms and artillery, items about civilian life, how the soldiers lived, the entry of the Americans into the war, the role of women, and health care, among other areas. (The French government bought the whole lot for 600,000 Euros...given the amazing condition of the items and the sheer number of them, I'm not so sure he got a great deal.)
The pieces are in absolutely stellar condition -- flags still vibrant, uniforms nearly completely intact -- even a small tank emerging from the floor.
This morning, there were uniformed reenactors representing all of the countries who fought in the war (only one American!), including Turkish, Moroccan, German, Scottish, and English -- and even one from southeast Asia (I had NO idea there were that many countries that participated...) I'll try to upload some photos -- unfortunately, they were on the east side of the building, so I was shooting into the sun much of the time, leaving my photos washed out.
The exhibit actually starts at the end of the Franco-Prussian conflict of 1870, then continues to set the stage for WWI and continues just into the years between the wars.
Unfortunately, it was wall to wall people -- we walked a kilometre from the first available parking lot, then stood in line for two hours to get into the museum, which, at 30,000 square feet (3000 sq m) isn't big enough to spend an entire day poking around. The crush of people meant that our patience was wearing thin, and we didn't have time to look at the artifacts in anywhere near the time that would would have preferred to take. (The employees were more than sympathetic -- making their way down the enormous line with boxes of pastries and thermoses of coffee for the visitors.)
If you are at all interested in WWI history -- all facets of it -- it's a fantastic new museum. There are even reproductions of trenches - both an open trench, and a closed trench complete with bunks, all smelling of fresh paint.
The bad news? It's not easy to get to -- you could take the Paris Est line from Gare de l'Est to Meaux. From Gare de Meaux the M6 bus will take you to the museum, or a 10-minute cab ride (although having a cab to collect you for the return to the station could be an adventure!)
The worst is that it's going to be a mess to get there from Disney -- first a bus from Disney to Gare de Meaux (30 min), then the M6 bus to the outskirts of Meaux, as it absolutely is not walking distance from the station. They're expecting 80,000-100,000 visitors per year, but I think they're overestimating how many people are going to make the trip and then spend the 10E for adults for admission.
Meaux has a gorgeous cathedral, the remains of the original ramparts (dating back to the Romans), a good museum (Musee Bossuet, next door to the cathedral) and good marches (remember this is the home of Brie de Meaux...) with some decent restaurants near the river, so it's a good day out.
We very likely will return after the hubbub dies down to take our time absorbing the exhibits -- there's a coffee bar and lockers on site.
So the upshot? Terrific museum with an astonishing number of artifacts in pristine condition, and worth a visit IF you can get there.
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha