Museo de la Construcción Naval
Museum in the Herrerías building in the Ferrol Arsenal, with a route through Spanish shipbuilding from the 18th century to the present day.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo de la Construcción Naval occupies the Herrerías building, an 18th-century industrial structure in the Arsenal de los Diques de Ferrol, in the part of the arsenal designed by Julián Sánchez Bort in 1765. King Charles III approved the plan for the ironworks in September 1781. The building is 101 metres long and 26 metres wide, has vaults on 132 arches of ashlar masonry, and at one point 386 people worked there making the metal parts for the Navy’s ships.
Over time its use changed: from 1850 it served as a practical training workshop for students of the Navy’s Machinists’ School (Escuela de Maquinistas de la Armada), which moved there in 1920, and from 1988 it operated as a store. Restoration began in 2001, returning the building to its original appearance, and the museum opened on 10 March 2008. It is run by the Fundación Exponav, a private non-profit body created to publicise shipbuilding and maritime activities.
The ground floor covers shipbuilding in general: ships and shipyards, engineering, materials, joining technologies, propulsion and traditional boatbuilding (carpintería de ribera). The wreck of the frigate Magdalena, sunk in 1810 in the ría of Viveiro and recovered by the Navy in the 1970s and 1980s, is a highlight. The first floor reviews shipbuilding in Ferrol from the 18th century and includes the Sala Navantia and an exhibition on lighthouses and maritime signals. In total, the museum occupies more than 4,000 m².
Highlights
- Wreck of the frigate Magdalena, sunk in 1810 in the ría de Viveiro
- 18th-century Herrerías building, restored in the 21st century
- Models of ships and shipyards from different periods
- Sala Navantia and room on shipbuilding in Ferrol
- Exhibition on lighthouses and maritime signals
Permanent exhibitions
- Planta baja: la construcción naval – Route through ships and shipyards, engineering, materials, propulsion and traditional boatbuilding, with the wreck of the frigate Magdalena as the highlight.
- Planta primera: la construcción naval en Ferrol – History of shipbuilding in Ferrol from the 18th century, with the Sala Navantia and an exhibition on lighthouses and maritime signals.
- Founded
- 2008
- Operated by
- Fundación Exponav
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1People over 65, large families and ICOM members |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Seniors | €1Reduced rate from age 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree admission for students. |
| Groups | –Group rate: up to 40 people, €30; 40 to 80 people, €60; 81 to 100 people, €90. Free for schools and associations. |
| Families | €1Reduced rate for large families. |
Free admission also for teachers, jobseekers, official tourist guides and press members while working. Card payment is accepted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
According to the TUR4all accessibility record, interior circulation is passable by wheelchair, the entrance door is at least 78 cm wide and there is an adapted toilet. Guide dogs are admitted.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €1 · Reduced rate for large families. |
Schools and other groups can book workshops and guided visits using a request form that can be downloaded from the website.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the Herrerías building, within the complex of the Ferrol Military Arsenal and next to the Museo Naval, with access from the calle Irmandiños; it is part of the Ruta de la Construcción Naval.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The Sala Carlos III on the first floor can be requested by sending a form to the foundation’s management (exponav@exponav.org).
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography and filming are allowed for personal use; any other use requires prior permission by email. |
| Good to know | Guided visits for groups must be booked at least 72 hours in advance, Monday to Friday 9:00–14:00 (+34 981 359 682); groups without a guided visit do not need to give notice. A leaflet with the route is handed out on entry. Bags larger than 35 × 35 cm, food and tobacco are not admitted, and animals may only enter if they are guide dogs. The museum also offers a virtual visit on its website. |
