Maison de l'Armateur, Maritime museum in Le Havre, France
The Maison de l'Armateur is a five-story neoclassical house overlooking the harbor in Le Havre. The building displays rooms with furniture, artworks, and objects from the 18th century that document the lives of wealthy merchants.
The house was built in 1790 by architect Paul-Michel Thibault and stands among the few buildings that survived the 1944 bombing of Le Havre. This bombardment destroyed much of the city and makes the house a rare survivor from that era.
The house displays furniture, old sea charts, and paintings from the 18th century that reflect the trading history of the Foäche family. Visitors can see how wealthy merchants lived back then and what objects mattered to them.
The house sits directly by the water near the harbor and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should note that only certain days and times are available for tours and visits, so it makes sense to check in advance.
At the center of the house runs an octagonal light well through all five stories, flooding the interior with natural light. This architectural solution keeps even the upper rooms bright and airy.
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