Musée Mer Marine

Overview

The Musée Mer Marine explores humanity's relationship with the sea through an extraordinary collection of maritime art, ship models, navigation instruments, and underwater archaeology. Housed in a massive contemporary building near La Cité du Vin, it is one of France's newest major museums.

Highlights

• Ship Models: Over 900 scale models spanning ancient triremes to modern aircraft carriers — one of the largest maritime model collections in Europe.
• Marine Art: Paintings by marine artists including Claude-Joseph Vernet's dramatic storm scenes.
• Underwater Archaeology: Artefacts recovered from shipwrecks, including Chinese porcelain and trading cargo.

History

Opened in June 2019, the museum houses the personal collection of Norbert Fradin, a Bordeaux entrepreneur who spent 40 years assembling one of the world's most comprehensive private maritime collections. The 13,000 m² building was designed specifically to house the collection.

Visitor Tips

• Combine: Pair with a visit to the adjacent La Cité du Vin for a full day in the Bassins à Flot quarter.
• Maritime Enthusiasts: Allow extra time — the model ship collection alone can absorb an hour.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.