clairiere de l'armistice

I found this museum whilst searching on Trip Advisor and we decided to visit. It is a very thought provoking place and the museum building with the train carriage and all the artefacts is very interesting. It is well signposted off the main road and plenty of free parking. There are no refreshments available. If you are interested in WW1 this is the place for you.

The place where Germany surrendered at the end of WW1 and France surrendered in May 1940. So no questions here about authenticity of the location. And what's more, here you can see the train wagon in which both in 1918 and 1940 those surrenders took place. The train is in the small museum. And a lot smaller, but maybe not less important, are the pencils which were used to sign the 1919 Versailles peace treaty, which are also on display in this museum. The museum however is outdated in how it presents these artefacts and in getting the story across. A charming building though, surrounded by some cannons and a Renault FT17 tank. Go there, see it, but make sure you go to the museums in nearby Peronne or Meaux afterwards, to make your WW1 historic tour more complete.

This is a really important part of our history . Pivotal moments of both World War 1 and World War 2 . The train carriage where the treaty ending the first war was signed and the ceasefire of 1940 was signed between France and Germany dividing France in two . Also an interesting small museum and many memorials in a little garden and the symbolic memorial which was draped in a swastika

We saw the wagon which is a replica of the original one used for signing the armistice in 1918. This museum is full of interesting memorabilia pertaining to the first world war. The presentation of the story of the wagon is available in French, English and German. But all other information is mostly in French.

Very peaceful; and well run, set in a glade in the Compiegne forest.English voice over and leaflet,guided tour is in French.Well signposted off the main road to Compiegne

On the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 it seemed fitting to visit this historic site. A good couple of hours worth of entertainment and amazing to have visited this area of historic significance.

We enjoyed the visit, and the history, disabled access is a bit uncomfortable to start as you enter via a wooded path. But it was level. The entrance to the museum was taking your life into your own hands, not the best disabled lift, but at last we got in! Exhibition was good.

We visited because my son wanted to see where WW1 had ended. We knew there wasn't much to see before we went and so were prepared for that. What we hadn't expected was that such a simple and basic site could be so atmospheric. It really felt as if you could feel the historic events that had taken place there. The museum itself was small, but packed with so much to see, thanks to the photo collection they had, and the films that were being shown. The footage from 1940 when Hitler forced the French to surrender, and the symbolism of that humiliation inflicted upon the French, and the subsequent dismantling of memorial by the Nazis, was both mesmerising and awful to watch, and gave its restored state extra poignancy. Well worth a visit.

Peaceful, respectful and very moving.The photos in particular illustrate the effect of war on civilians as well as the combatants

This is a very unusual museum in the 21st century, somewhere that doesn't sugarcoat or glorify what happened, nor does it put a spin on the events. It is simply a case of "this is what happened in 1918, this is what happened in 1940" and nothing more, which for a site of such international significance is quite refreshing. The collection of trench art is certainly one of the best I have ever seen and the collections of WW1 and relevant WW2 artifacts are truly amazing. The memorials themselves are understated, quiet and surprisingly also free to visit (you only have to pay to visit the museum itself), although I suggest having a reasonable grasp of the French language before visiting. The pictures say it all although if you are taking children I would strongly suggest you audit the slides in the upright displays before allowing them to have a look they are quite graphic, going back to my original comment about not sugar coating anything. The other surprising thing I saw displayed was the full pictorial display taken during the surrender of France to Germany in 1940 and the account of the original carriages trip round Europe courtesy of Hitler. The picture of the 1918 memorial draped in swastika emblazoned flags is also quite upsetting. Finally in the corner you see all that remains of the original coach (2 burned door frames, twisted handrails and some brass work off the side) and they explain that the original coach was destroyed by the SS in the dying days of WW2.

Very simple but beautifully done. I loved the slides which looked 3d and gave a wonderful view of what it was really like in the trenches. Well worth a trip.

All the displays are in french however the replica train does have a english audio if you ask them for it

Some of the most amazing stereo photos I have seen of the front line of WW1. There are many relics from WW1. While most of the signs and information is in French there is a lot to see. And it is located in the most beautiful forest.

Well worth a visit if in the area and, at 5 Euro each it's reasonable value plus, there's plenty of free parking.Only downside is that there a virtually no English translations (other than the audio in the main carriage area) so, some of the artefacts can be hard yo follow.

An amazing place to visit - to walk the spot where the WW1 armistice was signed and also the same spot where the French surrendered to Hitler in WW2. Some fantastic footage from the time.