Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
machine-gunned and burned on June 10, 1944, by Nazi troops. With cool attention to de-
tail,theNazismethodicallyroundeduptheentirepopulationof642townspeople,ofwhom
200werechildren.Thewomenandchildrenwereherdedintothetownchurch,wherethey
weretear-gassedandmachine-gunned.Plaquesmarktheplacewherethetown'smenwere
grouped and executed. The town was then set on fire, its victims left under a blanket of
ashes.
The reason for the mass killings remains unclear today. Some believe that the Nazis
wanted revenge for the kidnapping of one of their officers, some believe they wanted to
teach locals a lesson for stealing a large amount of gold, and still others believe that the
Nazis were simply terrorizing the populace in preparation for the upcoming Allied inva-
sion (this was four days after D-Day). Today, the ghost town, left untouched for almost 70
years (on the order of President Charles de Gaulle), greets every pilgrim who enters with
only one English word: Remember.
Cost and Hours:
Entering the village is free, but the museum costs €8 (audioguide-
€2, but ample English explanations posted). Both are open daily mid-May-mid-Sept
9:00-19:00,off-seasonuntil17:00or18:00,lastvisitonehourbeforeclosing,tel.055543
04 30,
www.oradour.org
.
Allow two hours for your visit.
