Oradour-sur-Glane coat of arms
Coat of arms for Oradour-sur-Glane (Orador de Glana)

Haute-Vienne coat of arms
Coat of arms for the Haute-Vienne (Department 87)

How to get there and places to stay

when visiting Oradour-sur-Glane in the Haute-Vienne, Department 87 of France (Orador de Glana in Occitan)

All data are believed to be correct at the time of writing: please advise me at: michael@oradour.info if you find any changes.

For the most up-to-date health requirements regarding Covid-19, read the guidance on the official Centre de la Mémoire website at: https://www.oradour.org before visiting.

Plan of Oradour-sur-Glane ruins

Plan of Oradour-sur-Glane new village

Opening dates and times for the ruins and the Centre de la Mémoire
 


General (including Tourist Office)
 

The Centre de la Mémoire

Hotels and other places to stay in the area


Parking for vehicles and places to stay in the area, for Motor Caravans, Caravans and Tents
 

Currency (the euro)

10th June ceremony

General (including Tourist Office)        

    The first point to remember is that whilst Oradour-sur-Glane is often referred to simply as, "Oradour", there are in fact seven places in France which include the name "Oradour" as either a part, or as the whole of their title and it is obviously important to make sure that you visit the right one. The second point to remember is that the village name is often spelled in the literature and on the internet as "Oradour sur Glane" without the hyphens, however on this website I am following the French mapping convention which includes them, see: The Oradours of France.

    Oradour-sur-Glane is in the Haute-Vienne, Department 87 of France and is located about 22 kilometers North-West of Limoges on the D9, which is off the N141 (E603). It takes about 25-30 minutes to travel by car on quiet roads between the two places. This part of France falls within the area known today as, the Languedoc (The Language of the Oc). "Oc" is the Occitan word for "Yes" and Occitan was, until quite recently, used locally instead of French. In the Occitan language, Oradour-sur-Glane, is spelled as, "Orador de Glana".

    The area of the Haute-Vienne itself is predominantly agricultural in nature, with little industry, apart from that in Limoges itself.

    To get to Oradour-sur-Glane by public transport means taking the train to Limoges and then either bus or taxi out to Oradour. The more usual method these days is to travel direct by car. Assuming that you are coming from the north, take the A20 Autoroute (Motorway) south from Vierzon and follow the brown tourist signs for Oradour-sur-Glane, which begin just north of Limoges. Many motorways in France are toll roads and are not especially cheap to use, but they are relatively traffic free and fast with plentiful stopping places. As a guide to the cost from Calais to Limoges, reckon on about €40 each way for all the tolls (the A20 itself is in part, toll free). The speed limit on all motorways is 130 kph (81mph) in the dry and 110 kph (69mph) in the wet (when the lower limit applies, it is indicated by illuminated roadside signs on the motorways). I recommend using the Michelin Tourist and Motoring Atlas for France at a scale of 1:200000 (1cm = 2km) as this shows all routes and also indicates which Autoroutes (Motorways) charge tolls and which are toll-free.

    There is a bus service from Limoges to Oradour-sur-Glane. I have not personally tried it, but for a timetable see:

    https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Limoges/Oradour-sur-Glane-Station

    Another possibility is to use a Uber taxi, which could be considerably cheaper than a regular taxi.

    Travel times and distances from some French cities are: Calais 7½ hours and 720 kilometers. Paris 4¾ hours and 425 kilometers. Bordeaux 2¾ hours and 200 kilometers. Cherbourg 6¼ hours and 585 kilometers. All these times and distances are based on taking Autoroutes whenever possible and driving at the maximum permitted speeds. If you are not comfortable with driving at 81mph (130kph) on Autoroutes, then additional time will have to be allowed for the journey.

    Another option which I have not personally tried, but those of you living in the European area might like to consider, is to fly. Currently the budget airline Ryanair offers cheap flights from Stansted and other airports in the UK, to Limoges which can make a fly & car hire visit, far quicker than driving through France, especially after you have taken the channel crossing into account. It could be worthwhile checking with other carriers as well, if this option appeals to you.

    Limoges is famous for its porcelain industry and if you are so inclined there are factory outlets in the city where you can buy both perfect and seconds from all the famous makes. The French National Porcelain Museum (Musée Adrien Dubouché) is located within the city just off the N141, with good car parking facilities immediately adjacent.

The Tourist Office in Oradour is located at:

Office de Tourisme.

Place du Champ de Foire.

87520 Oradour-sur-Glane.

France.

GPS Co-Ordinates for the car park entrance for the Tourist Office in decimal notation are: North 45.93248, East 1.03299

Telephone:  +33 (0)5 55 03 13 73 for voice and  +33 (0)5 55 03 24 92 for FAX (the "+" symbol should be replaced by your country's international access code and the "0" in brackets omitted when calling from outside France)

 

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The Centre de la Mémoire

    The current visitor centre for the ruins of Oradour-sur-Glane is called the, Centre de la Mémoire and it opened in April 1999, replacing the two small kiosks at the north and south ends of the main street. It is on your left as you enter the new village on the road from Limoges and has ample free parking facilities without any height restrictions. The Centre is open every day of the week, but beware the long lunch break between 12:00 and 14:00. During this time the reception area may possibly not be staffed, but the ruins will remain open: see the village map

  • During opening hours you can park your vehicle for no charge on the car park at the Centre de la Mémoire.
     
  • GPS Co-Ordinates for the car park entrance in decimal notation are: North 45.92911, East 1.03319

    The main part of the Centre is free access, but for a charge of €7-80 (as of 2021), you can enter a special section which provides more background information and watch a video in French (with handsets that provide an English translation). The cost of seeing this exhibition has risen steadily since the Centre opened in April 1999. From April 1999 to February 2002 it was 30FF (€4.90) and from February 2002 to February 2006 it was €6-00 and in 2015 it was €7-80. It is in this section that there is a display board that attributes the massacre to, SS Commander Dickmann (sic).

    There is often an additional war, or terrorist related exhibition held in the Centre and usually there will be a separate admission charge to enter this section. For example, in 2009, the theme was the terrorist attack on 9-11 in the USA.

    There is no charge at all to enter the ruins themselves via the Centre, which is open every day of the week as follows:

    Opening times of the Centre de la Mémoire are as below: (see here for opening times and dates for the ruins themselves)
   
   From 15th January to 29th February    9h - 16h
   From 1st March to 15th May    9h - 17h
   From 16th May to 15th September    9h - 18h
   From 16th September to 31st October    9h - 17h
   From 1st November to 15th December    9h - 16h
   From 16th December to 14th January    Closed

     Last entrance 1 hour before closure   

     Annual closure of the Centre de la Mémoire is from 16th December to 14th January inclusive. During this closed period, the ruins are still accessible between 09:00 to 16h:00 via the entrance on the road to Confolens (the D9) opposite the Centre de la Mémoire. The ruins can also be accessed during the dates when the Centre is closed, via the original entrances at the Northern and the Southern ends of the village. See the village map of Oradour-sur-Glane for more details and the photograph of the out of hours entrance / exit gate which also can be used during this closed period.

   Opening  times of the ruins (these are not always the same as the opening times for the Centre de la Mémoire).

The postal address of the Centre is:

Centre de la Mémoire.

87520. Oradour-sur-Glane.

France.

GPS Co-Ordinates for the car park entrance for the Centre de la Mémoire in decimal notation are: North 45.92911, East 1.03319

Telephone numbers are: +33 (0)5 55 43 04 30 for voice and +33 (0)5 55 43 04 31 for FAX (the "+" symbol should be replaced by your country's international access code and the "0" in brackets left out when calling from outside France)

  •     Note 1: That in order to preserve the ruins in the, "best possible ruined state", frequent re-building work is carried out as necessary and this may prevent access to some parts of the village during your visit.
     
  •     Note 2: The only building in the ruins that is normally open for public access is the church, all the other properties can be viewed from the outside only.
     
  •     Note 3: Photography for private use is permitted without restriction throughout the ruins wherever you can walk, but not in the Centre de la Mémoire itself.
     
  •     Note 4: Dogs are not allowed in either the Centre de la Mémoire or the ruins (this policy does not apply to assistance dogs).
     
  •     Note 5: There is wheelchair access to the ruins via a lift on the ruins side of the Centre de la Mémoire. It is possible to take a wheelchair throughout the streets and the cemetery of Oradour, but there is no wheelchair access into the church. The wheelchair access to the ruins is only really viable during the opening hours of the Centre, if you were attempting to gain access, or leave after the centre had closed, then you would have to use the out of hours gate and run the chair over a grassed area to / from the D9 (see above).

    All prices and times were correct as of August 2015, if you find they have changed please let me know and I will update this page.

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Hotels and other places to stay in the area

    Hotels in Oradour-sur-Glane

    There are several hotels in the new Oradour and I suggest doing an online search to find one that suites your needs.

    The list below of accommodation in the area, was last updated 22 November 2024.

  • Chambre d'hôtes Le Queyroix-Martin This accommodation is located in Vaulry, situated in the Monts de Blond, 20 minutes by car north of Oradour-sur-Glane. The chambre d'hôtes is a converted stone built barn and has 3 double bedrooms all with en-suite facilities. Table d'hôtes evening meals can be reserved in advance. The owners are English and can also speak French. I have not personally tried or visited the accommodation.

    I am willing to accept new entries for this accommodation list at no cost, on the proviso that your own website mentions this website and Oradour-sur-Glane. If you would like your property added, please email with full details to: michael@oradour.info This section of the website is checked regularly and any dead links will be removed as soon as discovered (to date I have never been asked to remove a link when the business stopped trading).

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Parking for vehicles and places to stay for Motor Caravans, Caravans and Tents in the area

    Parking for all vehicles

  • There is plenty of free car parking space in the new Oradour-sur-Glane, starting with that at the Centre de la Mémoire, this parking can accommodate both cars and Motor Caravans, or RVs during daylight hours. In addition there is a large car-park just off the roundabout by the Centre de la Mémoire on the D9, see the village plan for details. If towing a caravan you are probably best advised to leave the caravan on a site, such as the one shown below and visit without it, as parking in the new village has not been designed to accommodate such long vehicles.

    Aire for Motor Caravans (Campervans, Camping-Cars, Motorhomes, Kampers, Wohnmobile, Reismobil, Bobil, Husbil, RVs)

  • There has been an Aire de Repos (often simply called an, "Aire" in French) for Motor Caravans in Oradour-sur-Glane since 2004. It is clearly signposted as, "Aire de Repos" from the roundabout leading to the Centre de la Mémoire and it is located at the end of the Rue du Stade: see the village map. The Aire itself was free to use overnight from 2004 until 2024 and since spring 2024 it has cost around €17 per night, including Taxe de Séjour, electricity, water and waste disposal. It has places for 27 outfits (sometimes these spaces are marked and sometimes they are unmarked (it varies from year to year). There is a water point (a Borne) where you can get water and empty toilet cassettes. Also provided are washbasins (cold water only) and toilets, a children's play area and even a barbeque point. The Aire is open all year and is located adjacent to the sports and football ground on the Rue du Stade: see the village map and view overlooking and view from entrance and view of a Motor Caravan using the service point. It is worth knowing that apart from a few spaces near the toilets, the Aire is not very horizontal and so levelling ramps may be required by Motor Caravans depending on how level you like to be when stopped.
     
  • The Aire is in the Camping-Car Park network and uses a Pass'Etapes card for access which you can get from the dispenser at the entrance to the Aire and then load it with credit using a Credit Card, or Debit Card (see www.campingcarpark.com) ,there is also an App for Smartphones and a telephone number for enquiries / help (+33 (0)1 83 64 6921: English spoken)
  • GPS Co-Ordinates (in decimal notation) for the entrance to the Aire are: North 45.93570, East 1.02472
     
  • During opening hours you can park your car no charge on the car park at the Centre de la Mémoire, watch out for height barriers at the entrance if carrying bikes on the roof, or if your vehicle is tall. There is a public car park without a height barrier just off the roundabout leading to the Centre de la Mémoire, but this is not intended for overnight stays (use the Aire de Repos mentioned above).
     
  • It is obvious that many visitors who come to Oradour by Motor Caravan, do not realise the significance of the 10th of June and whilst the Aire de Repos was quite full on the 9th of June in 2009 and again in 2012 and 2014 and yet again in 2024, it was no busier on the 10th itself.

    Motor Caravan, Camping Car, RV, Caravan and Tent Camp sites

  • Camping des Alouettes in Cognac-la-Forêt. This is a pleasant, quiet and reasonably priced rural site which has an outdoor swimming pool that I have stayed at in 2014. The website has English, French and Dutch sections. Telephone 05 55 03 26 93. GPS coordinates (in decimal notation) are: North 45.82494, East 0.99674

    I am willing to accept new entries for camp sites / Aires at no cost, on the proviso that your own website mentions this website and Oradour-sur-Glane. If you would like your camp site added, please email with full details to: michael@oradour.info This section of the website is checked regularly and any dead links will be removed as soon as discovered (to date I have never been asked to remove a link when the business stopped trading).

 

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Currency (the euro)

     For those wishing to visit France and see for yourselves the locations mentioned in this website, remember that starting on 1st January 2002 France changed its currency from the French Franc (FF) to the euro (€). This process was completed on 17 February 2002 and now only euro are legal tender. The exchange rate for the Franc to the euro has been fixed at, €1 equals FF 6.55957 and I believe that you can still change old French Franc bank notes only, to euro, by way of the Bank de France.

     Before making any travel plans of your own for a visit, be sure to check the current exchange rate of the euro to your local currency for yourself.

     It was not possible to obtain euro before 1st January 2002, but traveller's cheques were available several months in advance for the new currency.

     In (British) English the plural of euro, is euro (not euros, or Euros) and for cent, it is cent, not cents. Both euro and cent are intended to be written in lower case. The currency is divided into euro and cent, with 100 cent to the euro, so 2-55 is spoken as, "two euro and fifty-five cent". These intentions are often ignored and it is common to hear and see written, the term "Euros" and "Cents". In France I have often heard French people refer to Euros and Centimes, so things are not as black-and-white as official sources would wish.

 

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10th June commemoration ceremony

    Every year on the 10th of June, a commemoration ceremony is held in Oradour-sur-Glane to mark the anniversary of the tragedy. This event takes the form of a service at the church in the new village, followed by a short meeting in the Town Hall, followed by a visit to the school memorial, then on to the ruined church and finally a wreath laying at the main memorial in the cemetery. Usually the ceremony is attended by various dignitaries representing local and regional government as well as survivors of the massacre, such as Robert Hébras. On major anniversaries, representatives from the national government will also attend. See the Picture Gallery for images of the 65th, the 68th and the 70th anniversary commemorations..

As an example of the timing of events, here is the program for the 68th anniversary, held on Sunday June 10th 2012. Note that the participants march in procession from place to place, carrying the banners of their various organisations with them.

14:00 ... Mass in the Catholic new church of Oradour-sur-Glane

15:00 ... Reception of the personalities and other participants in the Town Hall

15:15 ... The procession leaves the Town Hall

15:30 ... Laying of the wreaths at the monument for the children at the school

15:45 ... Laying of the wreaths at the monument for the dead of both World Wars

16:15 ... Laying of the wreaths in the old church of Oradour-sur-Glane

16:25 ... A minutes silence held on the fairground of the old village of Oradour-sur-Glane

16:35 ... Laying of the wreaths at the memorial to the dead of Oradour in the cemetery

17:00 ... End of the ceremony

For the timing of the event for any particular year and the exact program to be followed, it is best to enquire at the Centre de la Mémoire nearer the time.


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© Michael Williams: 10th March 2000, revised 22 November 2024.