A fortified castle today classified as an historic monument, the castle of Brest originally dates from the Gallo-Roman period but has been altered many times over the centuries, in particular by Vauban who gave it its current appearance. A first-rate military place, it still unveils its keep and its ramparts today, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Penfeld, the harbor and the bottleneck. The site now hosts the National Museum of the Navy and the city's naval history through collections on weaponry, siege military techniques and shipbuilding.
The National Maritime Museum immerses the visitor in the maritime history of the great port of Brest, and tells them about the heyday of the arsenal and the art of naval decoration, through the history of the prison and the role of the city in the American War of Independence. The setting offers an exceptional view of the harbor, the ports and the Penfeld (coastal river).
Formed as a network, the National Maritime Museum is present in Paris at the Palais de Chaillot (currently under renovation, with a reopening scheduled for 2023), but also in Port-Louis (Morbihan), Rochefort (Charente-Maritime) and Toulon (Var). This territorial establishment allows it to maintain strong links with local maritime cultures, and to promote an active exhibition policy.
Although each site has its own theme linked to the maritime world, they respond to each other in unison to raise public awareness of the current and future challenges of the sea.
Practical information:
Address: Castle of Brest - 29200 Brest.
Tel. : +33 2 98 22 12 39.
Email: brest@musee-marine.fr
For timetables, consult the website of the National Maritime Museum.
Guided, nocturnal, storytelling or dramatized tours are regularly organized there.
