Musée des Blindés
About This Museum
Forget hushed art galleries; the Musée des Blindés in Saumur rumbles to life with the gritty, oil-stained history of armored warfare. It’s a place where you can walk right up to the steel behemoths that shaped the 20th century, from the quaint little Renault FT that defined the modern tank to the hulking German Tiger II. With over 200 vehicles from France and around the world, it’s less a traditional museum and more an epic, tactile timeline of combat engineering. The air itself smells of grease and history, telling a powerful story of conflict and innovation.
Collection Highlights
You can't miss the legendary Tiger II, one of only a handful left in the world, its massive frame dominating a hall. The collection brilliantly traces French armor from WWI's lumbering Saint-Chamond through to the sleek Leclerc main battle tank. Don't overlook the curious experimental prototypes, like the swiveling AMX-13 with its oscillating turret, which showcase some truly wild engineering ideas.
Visitor Information
It's surprisingly engaging for all ages—kids are wide-eyed at the sheer size of these machines while buffs can geek out on the technical details. Give yourself a good three hours to properly explore all the sheds and hangars. It’s located just outside Saumur, easy to find and with plenty of parking for even the largest family sedan (though sadly, not a tank).
Architecture & Building
The museum feels authentically industrial, housed in a series of no-nonsense hangars and former military workshops that look like they've been part of a working army depot for decades.
Contact & Location
Address: Route de Fontevraud, Les Pentes, Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France métropolitaine, 49400, France
Phone: +33 2 41 83 69 95
Website: Visit Website
