The Museum of the Resistance is divided into five rooms, each one dedicated to a different aspect of the Resistance: Memory, Refusal, Courage, Engagement, and Sacrifice. The permanent exhibition was created by veteran French Resistance fighters and pays tribute to the region’s anti-Nazi movement. Highlights include Vichy propaganda posters, underground Resistance newspapers, medals and flags, life-size dioramas, and weapons dating back to both world wars. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits.
The museum’s central focus is on education, so expect to learn a lot here. Topics covered include the underground press, the miners’ strike of 1941, and the secret escape networks operated by the Resistance.
You can pay tribute to the memory of the 68 Resistance members killed at the fort at a special on-site memorial, constructed in 1997.
Looking for gifts? The museum’s boutique sells books, DVDs, postcards, and magnets, among other souvenirs.
The entire museum is accessible to visitors with wheelchairs or limited mobility. You can organize visits in sign language on request; the museum also offers special guided tours for blind visitors or those with vision impairment.
The museum is free for children 12 and under. Full-priced admission costs €6 and includes an audio guide. Museum staff speak English and French.
The Museum of the Resistance is located along Route National 17 in Lille-Menin. It is reachable by Liane Bus Lines 91, 86, and 89; get off at either Fort de Bondues or La Quenouille. The museum can also easily be reached by private car, and parking is available on-site.
The museum’s opening hours change according to the time of year, so be sure to check an up-to-date calendar. From September to June, it is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Guided tours are available from 2:30pm until 6pm the first and third Sundays of the month. From July to August, the museum stays open until early evening but is closed from the 10th to the 16th of July and again from August 7th to 18th.
Northern France is home to multiple World War I and II heritage sites. Lesser-known attractions include the Blockhaus d’Eperlecques, the largest bunker built by Nazi forces in Northern France, and the Museum of the Atlantic Wall, where it’s possible to see four bunkers belonging to the coastal artillery known as the Todt Battery. To enrich your visit, consider heading out on a guided tour to learn the background and significance of each site.
