#4 - National Navy Museum or Poseidon Museum?

Located at trocadero in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, in the famous Palais de Chaillot, the marine museum is quite unknown, even though it’s one of the unique museums of the marine and navy. Due to massive renovation, the national navy museum was closed since 2017 and reopened last week-end.

It’s an exceptional collection displaying several centuries, showing the greatness of french maritime and naval history. Under the supervision of the ministry of the armed forces, it is a museum of art, history, technology, human adventures and history popular tradition. It was quite interesting discovering the exhibition, it was inclusive and immersive. You can see it even in the architecture of the museum and the art display.

It was an ambitious call from the museum but this transformation project is appreciated, though his reopening was waited by many for what seems to be an eternity. The museum chooses to represent the items and artwork as a showcase for the maritime world and offer innovative ideas, embracing the concept of inclusion using our senses and emotions. I think it was in many ways a good call, knowing we live in a world that require a more inclusif experience. The past few years only anchored this idea making the Navy Museum quite on point, if only they were much more place to really appreciate the massive painting and other artefacts displayed. 

I did appreciated the representation of Napoleon which was represented almost as Poseidon the god of seas. The combination of the theatral aspect and monumental sealing was so impressive. It felt like you were all alone in front of the ocean. Getting this feeling of “how small we are” compared to the greatness of nature. It felt so vivid, almost like we weren’t in Paris anymore but somewhere by the sea.

This place is quite magical and I highly recommand you to visit it, that is only if you want to travel your mind and soul…