Musée du Nouveau Monde, Maritime heritage museum in La Rochelle, France.
The Musée du Nouveau Mondo is housed in an 18th-century mansion and displays paintings, drawings, maps, and decorative art objects. The rooms showcase items that record the connections and exchange between France and territories across the Atlantic.
The building was created in 1780 when merchant Aimé-Benjamin Fleuriau merged two houses into one grand residence. His trading activities with Santo Domingo shaped the purpose of this newly combined structure.
The collections reveal the maritime trade routes that connected France to distant ports, showing how goods, people, and ideas moved across the Atlantic. Walking through the rooms, you encounter objects that testify to these long-distance relationships and their impact on local life.
The museum opens most days in the afternoon and extends into the evening on some days, allowing time to walk through the collections at your own pace. Guided tours are available if you want to learn more about the displayed items and their stories.
A substantial sculpture by artist Ousmane Sow greets visitors in the courtyard, creating a striking contrast with the classical mansion. This contemporary work sets the tone for understanding how the past and present perspectives on global connections intersect.
Location: La Rochelle
Inception: 1982
Official opening: 1982
Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible
Fee: Yes
Address: 10 Rue Fleuriau, 17000 La Rochelle, France
Opening Hours: Monday 13:30-17:30; Wednesday-Sunday 13:30-17:30
Phone: +33546414650
Website: https://museedunouveaumonde.larochelle.fr
GPS coordinates: 46.16168,-1.15160
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:43
La Rochelle and its surroundings offer families a range of activities along the French Atlantic coast. The city itself holds several attractions, including the aquarium with over 12,000 marine animals, medieval towers at the Old Port, and various museums such as the Maritime Museum and the New World Museum. Visitors can walk through the historic center with its Grosse Horloge and Saint-Louis Cathedral or explore the beaches at La Concurrence and Minimes. Port des Minimes provides access to boat trips, while parks like Charruyer Park offer green spaces for relaxation. The region extends to the offshore islands of Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron with their beaches and the Phare des Baleines lighthouse. Inland, attractions include La Palmyre Zoo with over 1,600 animals, Zoodyssée in Chizé, and Court d'Aron floral park in Saint-Cyr-en-Talmondais. History enthusiasts can visit the Corderie Royale and naval museum in Rochefort, while Fort Boyard stands as a recognizable landmark off the coast. Natural areas like Pierre Brune park near Mervent and the Rompsay Canal round out the offerings with walking trails and water activities.
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