Musée national de la Marine de Paris, Naval museum in Palais de Chaillot, Paris, France
The National Naval Museum of Paris occupies rooms within Palais de Chaillot and displays extensive collections of ship models, sea charts, navigation instruments, and maritime paintings. The exhibition spreads across multiple galleries where visitors can follow the evolution of French seafaring and naval power across different periods.
The museum was founded in 1752 by Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau and stands among the oldest maritime museums in France. Over the following centuries, the collection expanded significantly to document every phase of French seafaring from sailing ships to modern vessels.
The museum tells the story of French seafaring through objects, paintings, and personal items that belonged to sailors, showing what maritime life was like over centuries. These collections help visitors understand how deeply the sea shaped French identity and power.
The museum occupies a section of Palais de Chaillot with clear signage from the nearby metro station, making it easy to locate. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here, as the collections are large and warrant careful exploration.
Many of the ship models come from craftsmen in naval workshops and are masterful works built with real materials like wood and sailcloth. These miniatures display an artistic quality that goes beyond simple functionality or accuracy.
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