- THE FRENCH ARTILLERY MUSEUM
PURPOSE
The Museum of Artillery, one of the Army Branch Museums, is attached to the School of Artillery. It participates to the preservation of the French Artillery heritage, traditions and Branch culture. Widely open to the public, it is also a scientific and discoveries space with in addition an educational function.
Preservation of a national heritage
The collections on exhibit here are coming from :
- the Arsenal Conservatory of PARIS, created in 1685 by Louis Crevant, Duke
of Humières, Marshall of France and Grand Master Gunner,
- the regimental school museums and finally the Museum of the first Artillery
School created in 1791 in CHALONS sur MARNE,
and enriched, time passing by, with donations.
Preservation of the traditions and of the Branch culture
Original documents and ancient objects recall the French Artillery traditions
stemming from the French traditions and their evolutions. The museum stresses
on the major events and the great men who built the French Artillery history.
It also shows the technical and tactical progresses made by the fire support
Branch through the ages.
Cultural mediation
An impressive number of ancient cannons, ammunition and historical dioramas
are displayed inside and outside the museum.
A visit to the museum is not only a great pleasure. It is a unique opportunity
for adults and children, servicemen and civilians, locals and tourists to embark
on a time machine and discover at the same time the general evolution of the
techniques and the French society of the era.
Through the museum, the visitor can get a better understanding of some political
… of the French defence policy. As numerous French cultural organisations,
the museum is also one of the cornerstone for the education of the youngsters
to citizenship.
EXHIBITS
Full scale
The technical evolution of the French Artillery is supported by numerous cannons
dating from 1730 to 1945.
Full-scale dioramas are set up to allow the visitor to apprehend the human dimension
of the event.
Models
Some ancient ordnance are presented through models called " petits modèles
", functional reductions of the real war machine of the era; some are exceptionally
rare. Some models show how the artillery units conducted the training.
Human Dimension
Personal belongings and collectors recall these great men who, dedicated to
support the soldiers on the front line, gave the Artillery the reputation of
being the decisive element of the battle (“the king of the battle” or “the kings’
last argument”). They also tell History through an emotional register.
Audio and video
Videotape can be seen on request as an introduction to the visit. It prepares
the visitor for an exceptional travel through “the great History of the French
Artillery” from its origin to the mid-20th century.
VISITS
Free admission
Operating Hours
The museum is open
Sunday to Wednesday, 09.00 – 12.00
13.30 – 17.30
Annual closing from December 15th to January 15th
Open on weekend for special events posted in local and regional newspapers.
Group and guided visits
3 weeks prior to the visit day, a Group visit organiser must mail a request
to :
Musée de l'artillerie
BP 400
83007 Draguignan Cedex
Tel : country code 33 + (0*) 4.98.10.83.85 or 83.86 (*) to be dialed only
when in France
Fax : country code 33 + (0*) 4.98.10.83.86 (*) to be dialed only
when in France
E-mail : musee.artillerie@worldonline.fr
Gift shop
The gift shop presents numerous collectors and some historical books and documents
(in French) related to the artillery and its History.
SUPPORTING ASSOCIATION :
The museum’s activities are partially supported by a non benefit making association
:
" les Amis du Musée " (“the friends of the museum”)
Postal address :
Ecole d'artillerie BP 400
83007 Draguignan Cedex
Post check account :
CCP Marseille 7293 32 S
Annual fee : minimum 25.00€ ( donations are
welcome) to be sent in check to the above address.
To include 2 historical bulletins (in French) per year.
