Fodor's Expert Review Musée National de la Marine
Editor's Note: This property is currently undergoing renovations.
Perfect for naval and history buffs, this underrated museum in the west wing of the Palais de Chaillot has a treasure trove of art and artifacts documenting maritime development pertinent to France over the centuries. It’s one of five national museums dedicated to all things nautical (other locations are in Brest, Port-Louis, Rochefort, and Toulon). Inside you’ll see impressive models of vessels from 17th-century flagships to modern warships. Kids can climb a step to get a closer look at a model aircraft carrier, cut in half to expose its decks. The main gallery displays several figureheads recovered from sunken ships, including a giant Henri IV, with hand on heart, miraculously saved from a shipwreck in 1854 during the Crimean War. Another enormous representation of Napoléon, in his favored guise as a Roman emperor, was taken from the prow of the frigate Iéna in 1846. There is also a metal diving suit from 1882 and the menu from a 1935 voyage of the SS Normandie... READ MORE
Perfect for naval and history buffs, this underrated museum in the west wing of the Palais de Chaillot has a treasure trove of art and artifacts documenting maritime development pertinent to France over the centuries. It’s one of five national museums dedicated to all things nautical (other locations are in Brest, Port-Louis, Rochefort, and Toulon). Inside you’ll see impressive models of vessels from 17th-century flagships to modern warships. Kids can climb a step to get a closer look at a model aircraft carrier, cut in half to expose its decks. The main gallery displays several figureheads recovered from sunken ships, including a giant Henri IV, with hand on heart, miraculously saved from a shipwreck in 1854 during the Crimean War. Another enormous representation of Napoléon, in his favored guise as a Roman emperor, was taken from the prow of the frigate Iéna in 1846. There is also a metal diving suit from 1882 and the menu from a 1935 voyage of the SS Normandie cruise ship. Free English audioguides are available.
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