Musée national de l'Éducation, National education museum in Rouen, France.
The Musée national de l'Éducation is a large museum in Rouen dedicated to the history of teaching and schools. Its collection contains nearly one million objects from the 16th century to today, including textbooks, school furniture, student work, and educational materials from different countries.
The museum was founded in 1879 and began as a teaching center that grew into Europe's largest archive of school history. It preserves objects that document how education evolved from the early modern period through to today.
The museum reveals how teaching methods and school life have changed across five centuries. Visitors can observe classroom furniture, student creations, and learning tools that show what education looked and felt like in different eras.
The museum is housed in a historic 16th-century building that was once a private residence and is now fully accessible to visitors. Audio guides and clear signage help you navigate the different sections and understand how education has developed over time.
The building itself is a fine example of Renaissance architecture with beautiful courtyards and 16th-century details. Visitors can also see a reconstructed classroom from the Jules Ferry era that shows what school instruction actually looked like back then.
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