Musée de l'aéronautique navale

About the museum

The museum is housed on the former naval aviation base of Rochefort, founded in 1916 with hangars for airships. The base later trained pilots and naval aviation personnel. In 1923 the airship Méditerranée, a Zeppelin handed over to France, landed there; it was housed in the Astra hangar, which held the museum until 1999.

Training activities ceased in 2002. As early as 1988 a first heritage museum had been created on the site with the support of the central naval aviation department. The national association Musée de l’Aéronautique Navale (A.NA.M.A.N) was founded in 1990; its volunteers maintain and restore the aircraft.

The aircraft are shown mainly in the Dodin hangar, built in 1929, while the Saint-Trojan hangar, built in 1983, serves as a restoration workshop. The collection includes aircraft and helicopters of the French Navy, piston and jet engines, an avionics room, a section on airships and one of the largest model collections in France.

In 2019 the museum received a heritage prize from the Aéro-Club de France for the restoration of the Aquilon 203, and in 2026 it earned a star in the Michelin Green Guide.

Highlights

• Navy aircraft in the Dodin hangar (Super Étendard, Alizé, Crusader, Super Frelon …)
• Avionics room and engine collection, including cutaway engines
• Airship section, with the gondola of a Zodiac airship
• One of the largest model collections in France
• Restoration workshop in the Saint-Trojan hangar

Permanent exhibitions

• Hangar Dodin : aéronefs, moteurs et avionique – Navy aircraft and helicopters, piston and jet engines, onboard equipment and flight suits.
• Aérostation et dirigeables – Model of the airship Dixmude, parts of the Méditerranée, gondola of a Zodiac airship and photos of the base.
• Maquettes – Model collection on naval aviation, the Second World War and general aviation.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Association nationale du Musée de l’Aéronautique Navale (A.NA.M.A.N)

Admission & discounts

Rates for self-guided visits. Guided tours take place at fixed times: Tuesdays at 9:30 and 14:30, and Saturdays at 14:30.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is approved to receive people with reduced mobility; a wheelchair is available on reservation. According to the Rochefort Océan tourist office, the floor is flat, the aisles are at least 90 cm wide and accessible toilets are available.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Reduced rate for children aged 8 to 12 and free entry under 8. According to the tourist office, the museum is accessible with strollers.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Rochefort, at the Rond-point Albert Bignon, on the former naval aviation base on the outskirts of town.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Shop with books, models and clothing, open Saturday afternoons and Tuesdays. Wi-Fi is mentioned by the Rochefort Océan tourist office.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit