Visit to the La Rochelle Maritime Museum

A heritage to experience, ships to explore and visit: 
The France 1, a weather frigate listed as a historic monument and the Maritime Museum's emblem, can be visited from the engine room to the commander's bridge, and invites you to discover what life was like on board for the sailors and weather engineers. Alongside her, climb onto the deck of the Angoumois, a genuine trawler, or the Saint-Gilles, a harbour tug.

From the quay, admire the other vessels in the heritage fleet: the famous sailing ships Joshua and Damien, the classic trawler Manuel-Joël, the SNSM dinghy Capitaine de Frégate Leverger and the officer's dinghy Duperré, as well as the classic private yachts moored nearby.

La Rochelle and its ports in the grand gallery of pavilions: 
The permanent exhibition presents ‘La Rochelle, born of the sea’, shaped and moulded by the maritime adventures and conquests of the people who built it. Models, photos, engravings, personal accounts and artefacts will take you on a journey from the origins of La Rochelle in the year 1000 to the fascinating discovery of life in today's ports.

The interior hall of the auction, a former fish market:
Here you'll find an exceptional collection of boats, patiently assembled and restored by the passionate volunteers of the Association Les Amis du Musée Maritime de La Rochelle. This exhibition, entitled ‘Petite Plaisance’, brings together a fleet of 41 boats. Finns, 420s, minnows, caravels... they have all left their mark on many of La Rochelle's maritime heritage.

From 15 June to 15 September and all Zone A school holidays: open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday from 2pm to 6pm. Admission closes at 5pm.

From 16 September to 14 June, excluding zone A school holidays: open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 10am to 5.30pm, Saturday from 1.30pm to 5.30pm. Admission closes at 4.30pm.

Exceptional closures: 25 December and 1 January.

Discover La Rochelle and its ports in the large gallery of pavilions: The permanent exhibition presents "La Rochelle, born of the sea" shaped and molded by the adventures and maritime conquests of the men who built it. Models, photos, engravings, testimonies and objects will take you on a journey from the origins of La Rochelle in the year 1000 to the fascinating discovery of the life of contemporary port trades.
A heritage to experience, ships to explore and visit: The France 1, a meteorological frigate classified as a historical monument and a true emblem of the Museum, can be visited from the engine room to the commander's bridge, inviting you to discover the life on board of sailors and weather engineers. You can also climb on the deck of a real trawler or on the deck of a harbour tug.
The Maritime Museum is also a heritage that lives and sails with the reception on its quays of exceptional classic yachts of private owners.
Activities, evening events, schedules and rates of the museum: contact the Tourist Office of La Rochelle for more information.

Climate Ocean Exhibition, the first major French exhibition dedicated to the climate and the ocean. Immersive, aesthetic and participative, the exhibition is built on a solid scientific foundation established by a committee of experts.

Opening period

From 16/09/2023 to 14/06/2024
Opening hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday between 10 am and 12.30 pm and between 1.30 pm and 5.30 pm. On Saturday between 1.30 pm and 5.30 pm.
Closed exceptionally on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.

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