Musee Maritime (Maritime Museum), La Rochelle (must see)

The Maritime Museum of La Rochelle offers a fascinating and immersive journey through the city’s deep-rooted relationship with the sea. Located in the old trawler basin of the Olde Port, this unique museum spans across three historic ships and a vibrant pavilion complex designed by architect Patrick Bouchain. The museum’s permanent exhibition, titled “La Rochelle, born of the sea,” traces the city’s maritime evolution from its beginnings around the year 1000 through its rise as a prominent French port. Visitors encounter an array of models, photographs, maps, personal testimonies, and artifacts that bring La Rochelle’s seafaring legacy to life.

A major highlight of the museum is the chance to board the France 1, a 1958 meteorological frigate and national historic monument. Visitors can explore the ship from its engine room to the commander’s bridge, gaining insight into the lives of sailors and meteorological officers aboard. The Angoumois, a traditional fishing trawler, and the Saint-Gilles, a harbor tugboat and the last in France to use a reversible engine, are also open for exploration. These ships offer a tangible, hands-on experience that makes the Maritime Museum stand out as both a cultural and technical archive.

The museum doesn’t stop at the vessels you can board-it also features five other historic boats on display, including the famed ketch Joshua, which was sailed solo around the world by legendary sailor Bernard Moitessier. Additional vessels such as a 1906 dredger and several classic yachts and frigates help to round out a collection that spans commercial, military, and exploratory seafaring traditions.