Ardennes Poteau '44 Museum Is Closed.

Very sad news indeed is that the small Poteau '44 museum is apparently closed as of April this year.

I've only been able to glean some vague details from Continental websites, but it seems that over recent years the money had run out, with more and more exhibits being sold off.

I visited the museum a number of times soon after it opened in the early 2000's and it was one of my favourites in the Ardennes. A great pity.

 

They also had a break in, literally via the roof and many exhibits were stolen. It is a shame as it was a unique concept of a battlefield museum on a battlefield with exhibits inside and outside as well as armoured vehicles in which the visitor could travel to the remaining entrenchments. Many of the new and refurbished Bulge museums are all rather similar. The revamped La Geleize musuem has now gained the same sort of stuff as in all the others, but lost the diorama of the local battle for Cheneux, which isn't covered anywhere else.

 

Sad news.

 

Unfortunately I have to agree with you Sheldrake - I have been over to the Ardennes with several groups this year, but must say that I don't bother any more visiting these Museums. They're no longer telling the story of the battle, but rather exhibit objects that can be found in any Museum ... a bit boring.

 

Too bad. I will be in the Ardennes next week, and missed visiting this museum the first time I was there two years ago.

 

That's a bummer.

 

Really is it a bummer ? I have to disagree;

the battle for Poiteau was only lightly covered
a number of items where obvious replica's or fakes
The M8 or M10 Armoured vihicle was just an emty shell
WW1 was coverd in a WW2 museum
THe videoshow was absolutly bad
The offered tours in "orginal" WW2 vehicles were post WW2 vehicles
No realistic diorama's

There are stories the owner had some items that were obtained on a somewhat obscure way.......

I thought the museum was below standard a couple of years ago....

 

I was in the Ardennes years ago and never got the chance to visit the museum so I have no context in which to analyze the validity of the exhibits. I guess being an American living in the Northeast we are starved for WWII museums, although the ones we have are pretty good. I feel that any attempt at educating the masses on the Second World War is a plus. But yes, invalid history is not and never will be a good thing.