Naval Medical School

Founded in 1722, the Rochefort School of Naval Medicine was the first of its kind in the world. For more than 240 years, it trained surgeons on board ships. In the 19th century, the medical officers who studied there took an active part in voyages of exploration, prepared by their scientific training and motivated by their desire to understand the world in all its diversity.

Now open to the public, this site of the Musée National de la Marine opens the doors of its teaching rooms, its 25,000-volume scientific library and its museum. The anatomical, zoological and botanical collections and exceptional works will take you into the history of naval medicine and the scientific world of the 18th and 19th centuries.
It's a visit you won't want to miss, providing you with the keys to understanding this unusual place and offering you a unique, sensitive experience.

Guided tours of the Naval Medical School are available by prior arrangement.

During the site's opening hours, you can visit the Espace-repères on the ground floor and the Jardin d'Utopies outside free of charge.
- An illustrated timeline, the Espace-repères puts the founding and development of the Naval Medical School into perspective with the major dates in history.
- The Garden of Utopias presents a multitude of medicinal, aromatic and dye plants, echoing the voyages of exploration that brought some of them back to Rochefort. It's also a haven of peace and tranquillity.

Continue your discovery of Rochefort's maritime history with a visit to our second museum, the Hôtel de Cheusses/Arsenal!

The museum is not wheelchair accessible.
EU nationals are entitled to free admission for under-26s. If they are not, they benefit from the reduced rate.
RSA recipients and staff from the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the SNSM are also entitled to free admission.
Veterans and holders of the Carte Privilège of Rochefort Océan benefit from the reduced rate.
If you have visited the Hôtel de Cheusses/Arsenal with a full-price individual ticket, you will benefit from the reduced rate at the Ancienne école de médecine navale. And vice versa! The same applies to all the other National Museum of the Navy sites (Paris, Brest, Toulon, Port-Louis).
Discount valid on presentation of your ticket, one year from date of issue.

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