Founded in 1626 under the impetus of Cardinal Richelieu, the French Navy marks a significant historical milestone of four centuries of commitment and innovation in 2026. Its journey, from the Royal Navy to contemporary vessels, has consistently aimed to protect France's coasts, interests, and citizens.
To commemorate this anniversary, the Museum of History and Art in Villeneuve-Loubet is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the history and heritage of this institution. The event will showcase a remarkable collection of ship models, exceptionally loaned by the Admiral de Grasse Naval Museum.
These models will be complemented by a selection of paintings, pennants, insignia, navigation instruments, weapons, and other historical artifacts, enriched by pieces from private collections. Among the highlights, visitors can discover representations of the training cruiser Jeanne d’Arc (1931), the destroyer Le Terrible, and the battleship Richelieu (laid down in 1935).
The exhibition will offer insight into the evolution of ships, navigation techniques, and weaponry, while paying tribute to the generations of sailors who have shaped the history of the French Navy. The inauguration is scheduled for Friday, October 2nd, 2026, at 6:30 PM, under the high patronage of Admiral Jacques Lanxade, former Chief of the Armed Forces Staff, and in the presence of frigate captain Laurence Trastour-Isnart.
The exhibition will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 12 PM and from 3 PM to 5:30 PM, at the Museum of History and Art, located on Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville in Villeneuve-Loubet.
