Musée de l'ancien Havre, Maritime history museum in Le Havre, France
The Musée de l'ancien Havre occupies the Hôtel Dubocage de Bléville and displays paintings, documents, and maritime objects that chronicle the city's past. The collections spread across multiple floors and cover different periods in the city's development.
Le Havre was founded in the 16th century as a royal port and became central to France's maritime power. The museum received official French museum status in 2003 and preserves artifacts that document the city's evolution as a major harbor.
The collections here show how Le Havre developed as a port city where maritime trade shaped daily life and community identity. Paintings and artifacts reveal the stories of merchants, sailors, and craftspeople whose work built the city over time.
The building has multiple floors with different exhibition rooms to explore and rotating temporary shows alongside the permanent collection. Plan your visit according to your interests and how much time you have available.
The museum recently featured a special exhibition about explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano's 16th century voyage departing from Le Havre to New York Bay. This exhibition connects local history to a remarkable transatlantic journey of discovery.
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