The 'Distelfink' station was part of the Atlantic Wall and could detect aircraft over 300 kilometers away.
The site was captured by British commandos of the 3rd Infantry Division on June 7, 1944, the day after D-Day.
The museum houses one of the last remaining operational-style Würzburg Riese (Giant Würzburg) antennas in Europe.
The station was initially powered by two massive bunkers capable of providing independent electricity to the radar arrays.
The facility utilized 'Knickebein' and 'Wotan' systems to guide German night fighters against Allied bombers.
The bunkers contain authentic graffiti and markings left by the German soldiers who occupied the station.
The Radar Museum 1944 is located on the site of a former German Luftwaffe radar station known as 'Distelfink'. The museum occupies a preserved bunker complex that was instrumental in tracking Allied aircraft during World War II. It features a rare Würzburg Riese radar antenna, one of the few remaining examples of this technology in its original location. Exhibits detail the evolution of radar technology and its decisive role in the liberation of Normandy. The site includes multiple original concrete bunkers connected by a network of trenches. It provides a technical perspective on the Atlantic Wall's defensive capabilities. The museum highlights both the German surveillance systems and the Allied countermeasures used to jam them. Interactive displays illustrate the operation of the radar detection equipment. It remains a primary site for understanding electronic warfare in the 1940s.
The base of the Würzburg Riese radar antenna provides the most iconic view of the station's scale.
Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes as the site includes uneven terrain and gravel paths between bunkers.
Allow extra time to read the detailed technical placards that explain the radar jamming equipment.
Bring a light jacket, as the interior of the concrete bunkers remains significantly cooler than the outdoor temperature.
Do not attempt to climb on the sensitive radar antenna structure or enter areas cordoned off for site preservation.
Closed annually during the winter months; operates seasonally from spring through autumn.
