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French History
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 21/01/2008, 19:09
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Jura
Joined on 28/11/2005
Posts 761
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We were there in August 2003 and there was no way you could gain access to the village without first paying and going through the museum. How on earth could you NEVER see the museum unless you ignored it's presence?
I just suspect they have changed the conditions of access, most probably due to complaints, since we were there. We live right near the Rivesaltes camp near Perpignan, where the French willingly co-operated with the Nazi's and detained and transported Jews from France to Poland. We have travelled throughout Europe and even visited Auschwitz...we did not need to view yet more one more museum that day in 2003. We wanted to see the village.
Strangely, at about sunset (6.pm) that day a museum administrator walked about the village telling us 'stragglers' to leave the village as it was 'closing time'. My husband was still taking photographs of the square and was approached by this man and was told to leave. He told us the place was officially closed for the day.
When my husband was previously there in 1998 a plaque that was in place there officially stated that the village was to be made available, free of charge and free of restriction, to all generations forever more in memory of what happened there. Those actually were the words and express wishes of Gen. Charles de Gaulle all those years ago. It was not there when we visited there in 2003. But the museum was.
That is why some people 'hop the fence'.
Sunday Driver: Why does one need to pay money in order to pay one's respects? The village is where it all happened...we all know where the entrance fees go. Into pockets.
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29/01/2008, 14:50
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fieldwalker
Joined on 29/01/2008
Posts 2
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Entry to the village is accessible via the cemetery, which also houses the bunker containing artifacts of the massacre. Any cost associated with entry are for the museum, not for visits to the village.
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29/01/2008, 16:54
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cowoman
 
Joined on 08/04/2007
WR9 and 87
Posts 238
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We went to Oradour in september 2007 and didnt have to pay.We entered through the museum.Then walked around the eerie streets up to the cemetary.We saw photos on headstones of the familys that had been killed ..Anyone know what made the Germans do this?
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29/01/2008, 22:14
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Anna
Joined on 23/08/2004
Dordogne
Posts 171
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31/01/2008, 9:32
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bixy
Joined on 12/09/2004
Posts 275
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Like 'dwmcn', I too noticed the large number of sewing machines. And the more I walked around the odder things seemed. Where, for example, were all the roof tiles from all those collapsed roofs, and where were all the bedsteads that would have been in the bedrooms? Where were all the small metal items that would normally have been in every household - cutlery, scissors,tools? Why were there so many cars and large ones at that? I find it hard to believe that a village that size in the those days would have that many car owners. I think I counted at least a dozen.
I had always believed, probably read, that the village had been left "just as it was after the massacre". This is clearly not the case. I strongly gained the impression that the village martyr had in some senses been recreated with the odd bicycle here, a cooking pot there and yes the many sewing machines. My guess is that the village must have been extensively picked over by neighbours, surviving relatives and anything useful removed. That might explain the absence of roof tiles. Only later was it decided that the village would be left as a memorial and at that time a number of artefacts were added to give an air of authenticity.
None of the foregoing takes away the impact of the place and the horror of it all. Strangely, for me one of the most poignant sights was the old railway, with the rails still set in the ground, the overhead cables and the little station. This is all that remains of a once extensive system of tramways radiating out from Limoges which allowed the country people access to the city. It was all too easy to imagine the people with their baskets and bags standing at the station, chatting and laughing waiting for the little train to take them into town. Oblivious of the horror to come...
Patrick
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France Forum » French Culture » French History » Re: Oradour sur Glane
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