THE THIRD MILITARY MUSEUM IN FRANCE

The Museum about military Art and History (the old Napoleonic Museum) was created in 1963, after the death of L.E. Prost, a famous collector and a great director for historical festivals in Fontainebleau before the last Worldwar, by his son Louis Prost. Bought by the Municipality, the museum was put in the villa Lavaurs built in 1890, in the Saint-Honoré Street. Then, the municipal elected representatives wish the reunion in this place of the “chamber of uniforms”, a creation of the talented painter Hugo de Fichtner, with the Napoleonic Museum. Thanks to the number and the value of the gathered pieces, the Museum can claim that it is the third Military Museum in France.

In our courageous soldiers’ honour.

Room n°1 : It is dazzling. The history of the development of white arms between LOUIS XIV and the first World War, with swords and sabres of the Imperial Guard during the first Empire; we can dream of attacks with cuirassiers, hussars, the extraordinary cavalry of this time, as well as of clashes of infantry and naval battles.
We can also admire the breastplates out of different metals and out of several periods : the breastplates of carabineers, which are recovered with brass; the breastplate of a soldier out of the Engineers in 1826, which weighs 21 kg with its helmet (the “pot en tête”). There are dummies of cuirassiers, of carabineers and of “Cent-Garde” (period : Louis Philippe and Napoléon III)

Room n°2 : This room is reserved to the First Empire with several dummies. Officers and “Grognards” are mixed as if they waited orders. A Guard of Honour 1813 (This regiment will exist between 1813 and 1814), a quartermaster, non-commissioned officers of Hussars, officers and soldiers out of infantry, etc… make a coloured and moving show of this period of our history.
An important collection of fire-arms from the seventeenth century to the first World War decorate the showcases.
This room is showing an overview of the military hats between the first Empire and the first World War.

Room n°3 : Colonial conquests. The conquest in Algeria and the history of the French army in North Africa are the themes of this room n° 3. All the costumes, between the Algerian skirmisher and the African light cavalry are illustrating the splendour of our colonial army. In a showcase, there are several arms in a Moorish style, which were catched in North Africa; in another showcase, there is the evolution of the military hats between 1830 and the second Empire (there are also prototypes which are signed Scott or Detaille and are very rare).

Room n°4 : Magnificent presentation of costumes out of the second Empire, the museum is particularly rich for this period. A military secretary, an Empress’dragoon, un officer of the Grenadiers of the imperial Guard, a guide, etc…, this army was not short of prestige. Touching uniforms for children, which were worn by the sons of dignitaries and several showcases with hats, helmets which were worn by soldiers of the regiments out of this era complete the interesting things which are put together in this room.

Room n°5 : The room n° 5 is devoted to the artillery and to the regiments for the transport, with uniforms, pieces of harness and small-scale models of guns out of severol periods.

Room n°5 : In the ground floor, music, the musicians, the trumpeters and several women with uniforms make a whole which charms the visitors.
Among the musical instruments, there are two bassoons in very condition and a “Chinese hat” out of the first Empire; this instrument was born I, Turkey and came into France after a campaign in Egypt.
In all the museum, several old masters, engravings, pictures, medals and memories, which concern the military life and history, and which concern the worship to Napoléon 1st.

The "Napoléon’s goodbyes in Fontainebleau"
For small and great persons, a diorama prepares the visit. It shows the Napoléon’s goodbyes, which happened on april, 20th 1814: there are 500 characters with the castle behind them.
A very great model of the castle, which was built by Robert Houdin for the imperial cruise of the liner “France”; it shows the castle and its gardens.

Information : Napoleonic Museum of Art and Military History

88 rue Saint Honoré - 77300 Fontainebleau - Tel. : 01 60 74 64 89
Open daily from 2pm to 5.30pm, except Sundays, Mondays and bank holidays.
Guided tours for groups, also in the morning, on appointment.

Prices : 

- (including the rooms of contemporary painting as of 12 April) : € 2.50,
- Groups (starting from 10 people) : € 1.70
- Free for children under 12 years of age and recipients of the RMI (French minimum wage).