Musée Lapérouse

About the museum

Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, was born in Albi in 1741. His scientific expedition around the Pacific, undertaken for Louis XVI with the frigates Boussole and Astrolabe, disappeared in 1788 after a stop at Botany Bay. The idea of an Albi museum grew out of exhibitions organised from 1978 by the Association du Vieil Alby, founded in 1965 by Dr Pierre Amalric. He had brought to Albi objects recovered from the wreck site at Vanikoro, displayed in the lower hall of the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec.

In 1986 the City of Albi acquired premises in the former Albi mills on the right bank of the Tarn and set up the future museum there. It opened in June 1988. In the same year Albi twinned with Randwick, Australia, close to Botany Bay, and the square in front of the museum was named Square Botany Bay. The museum was run by the Association Lapérouse Albi France from 2004 to 2017, and became municipal again on 1 January 2018.

The display covers the expedition and a major chapter of late 18th-century maritime history. It shows many objects from the wrecks, which belong to the French state, as well as weapons, uniforms, navigation instruments and models. In 2021 the City launched the “Escale Lapérouse” project, which envisages a new space dedicated to the navigator.

Highlights

• Objects from the wrecks of the Boussole and the Astrolabe
• Weapons, uniforms and navigation instruments of the 18th century
• Models of the expedition's ships
• History of the greatest maritime expedition of the Enlightenment

Permanent exhibition

• L'expédition de Lapérouse – A display on the navigator from Albi and his expedition, with objects from the wrecks, weapons, uniforms, navigation instruments and models.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Ville d'Albi

Admission & discounts

Also free for Pass Tarn holders (accompanied by a paying person), Pass Culture holders, ICOM members, associations focused on Lapérouse, guides and journalists. Payment by cheque or in cash; bank cards are not accepted.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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 entrance and the upper hall (models, objects and map of the expedition) are wheelchair-accessible; the lower hall is not. A reserved disabled parking space is located on Rue Porta, near the museum.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located on Square Botany Bay, 41 rue Porta, on the right bank of the Tarn. Parking is available nearby.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.