Musée des Troupes de Marine
The museum traces the history of these exceptional troops, born in the 17th century, and which for four centuries have carried the colours of France to the four corners of the world.
Opened in October 1981, the Musée des Troupes de Marine is one of fifteen museums of the French Army. Its collections invite visitors to discover the history of the Troupes de Marine and that of overseas France. It is also a place for educational workshops, conferences, temporary exhibitions and painting exhibitions.
A museum of history, science and technology, art and military traditions, but also of human adventures, the Marine Troops Museum presents an illustrated evocation as much by museum assets as by archives or iconographic documents.
The history of the Weapon that gave France its colonial empires serves as a common thread for the history of overseas France. 120 display cases, 55 uniforms, 100 firearms and bladed weapons, from the 1769 naval sabre to the 1858 Lefaucheux revolver and 250 decorations.
Paintings allow us to present all the outfits and uniforms worn by the Marsouins, the Bigors and the tirailleurs from the 17th century to the 1930s.
The history presented in the museum spans almost four centuries.
In 1622, Richelieu created the "hundred companies of the sea", the first troop of marine infantry.
From the 1750th century onwards, indigenous troops were recruited, first the Sepoys in India (1765) then the Laptots of Gorée in Senegal (XNUMX).
The Royal Infantry Corps was created in 1769, replaced in 1772 by the Royal Marine Corps. For the first time, the ordinance flag bore the naval anchor, a symbolic mark that the Marine Troops have kept on their attributes to this day.
Memorabilia from the old regime are rare in the museum, including the first regulation pistol of the navy (1779).
The naval artillery took part in the campaigns of the Empire, in particular at Lützen (1813), the oldest battle inscription appearing on the emblems of the Marine Troops.
In the 20th century, being only transported on board ships, the marine infantrymen were nicknamed "Marpoins" by the sailors, in reference to the cetaceans which accompany the ships.
Some display cases present the battles of the "Blue Division" which fought until "the last cartridge" in the Ardennes in 1870, in Bazeilles. Since 1986, Fréjus has hosted the gathering of the great family of the Arme every year, on August 31, the day of the "Bazeilles Festival".
The colonial epic of the Third Republic is represented with memories from Africa, the Pacific and Indochina.
In 1900, the Marine Troops left the Navy and were attached to the Ministry of War (Army), under the name of "Colonial Troops"
Among the famous colonials, we will mention Marshal Gallieni, omnipresent in the museum and Fréjusien by adoption. The museum preserves the Koch automobile, which he used in Madagascar from 1900 to 1905.
Six display cases cover the Great War from 1914 to 1918. The colonial exhibition and the parade of July 14, 1931 are evoked by posters and miniature parade reconstructions.
The Second World War is also represented, then the Indochina and Algerian wars.
The colonial troops became overseas troops in 1958, then marine troops again in 1961.
The subdivisions of weapons or specialities that have disappeared are not forgotten in the museum: colonial intendance, equipment and buildings service, colonial telegraphists, camel drivers, aviators and the health service which also has an important place.
A brief evocation of recent operations is also represented.
Conservatory of the heritage of the Marine Troops, the museum is also a center of various activities. Conferences, (200-seat room), temporary exhibitions.
Created in 1996, its Center for the History and Study of Overseas Troops (CHETOM) is classified as an archive repository of the Ministry of Defense. 12000 books, 800 boxes of archives, are available to researchers and historians and can be consulted on site.
A museum of history, science and technology, art and military traditions, but also of human adventures, the Marine Troops Museum presents an illustrated evocation as much by museum assets as by archives or iconographic documents.
The history of the Weapon that gave France its colonial empires serves as a common thread for the history of overseas France. 120 display cases, 55 uniforms, 100 firearms and bladed weapons, from the 1769 naval sabre to the 1858 Lefaucheux revolver and 250 decorations.
Paintings allow us to present all the outfits and uniforms worn by the Marsouins, the Bigors and the tirailleurs from the 17th century to the 1930s.
The history presented in the museum spans almost four centuries.
In 1622, Richelieu created the "hundred companies of the sea", the first troop of marine infantry.
From the 1750th century onwards, indigenous troops were recruited, first the Sepoys in India (1765) then the Laptots of Gorée in Senegal (XNUMX).
The Royal Infantry Corps was created in 1769, replaced in 1772 by the Royal Marine Corps. For the first time, the ordinance flag bore the naval anchor, a symbolic mark that the Marine Troops have kept on their attributes to this day.
Memorabilia from the old regime are rare in the museum, including the first regulation pistol of the navy (1779).
The naval artillery took part in the campaigns of the Empire, in particular at Lützen (1813), the oldest battle inscription appearing on the emblems of the Marine Troops.
In the 20th century, being only transported on board ships, the marine infantrymen were nicknamed "Marpoins" by the sailors, in reference to the cetaceans which accompany the ships.
Some display cases present the battles of the "Blue Division" which fought until "the last cartridge" in the Ardennes in 1870, in Bazeilles. Since 1986, Fréjus has hosted the gathering of the great family of the Arme every year, on August 31, the day of the "Bazeilles Festival".
The colonial epic of the Third Republic is represented with memories from Africa, the Pacific and Indochina.
In 1900, the Marine Troops left the Navy and were attached to the Ministry of War (Army), under the name of "Colonial Troops"
Among the famous colonials, we will mention Marshal Gallieni, omnipresent in the museum and Fréjusien by adoption. The museum preserves the Koch automobile, which he used in Madagascar from 1900 to 1905.
Six display cases cover the Great War from 1914 to 1918. The colonial exhibition and the parade of July 14, 1931 are evoked by posters and miniature parade reconstructions.
The Second World War is also represented, then the Indochina and Algerian wars.
The colonial troops became overseas troops in 1958, then marine troops again in 1961.
The subdivisions of weapons or specialities that have disappeared are not forgotten in the museum: colonial intendance, equipment and buildings service, colonial telegraphists, camel drivers, aviators and the health service which also has an important place.
A brief evocation of recent operations is also represented.
Conservatory of the heritage of the Marine Troops, the museum is also a center of various activities. Conferences, (200-seat room), temporary exhibitions.
Created in 1996, its Center for the History and Study of Overseas Troops (CHETOM) is classified as an archive repository of the Ministry of Defense. 12000 books, 800 boxes of archives, are available to researchers and historians and can be consulted on site.
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Location details
- Public transport stop within 500 m
- Bus stop within 500 m
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- Unguided individual tours permanently
- Guided individual tours on request
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- Unguided group visits on request
- Guided group tours on request
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Activities on site
- Temporary exhibitions
- Permanent exhibition
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