Museum
Off the coast of La Rochelle and Rochefort, 20km from the Ile de Ré and 5km from the Ile d’Oléron, the Ile d’Aix was a strategic military base for a long time. But despite a long military history, it owes its fame to Napoleon. For the Emperor stayed there after the defeat at Waterloo, from 9th to 13th July, 1815, when he surrendered to the English. The house where he stayed, donated to the national museums in 1933, assembles Napoleonic souvenirs. The island also houses an African museum.
Useful information
Musée napoléonien et Musée africain, île d’Aix
Rue Napoléon
17123 Ile d’Aix
Information and group reservations
Tel: (33) 05 46 84 66 40
Fax: (33) 05 46 84 69 67
Online
Visit the museum’s website: www.musees-napoleonien-africain.fr
Access
By boat: between La Rochelle and Rochefort, embarkation at Fouras.
Find out more about the boat
Opening times
The museums are open:
from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm, from 1st April to 31st October;
from 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm, from 1st November to 31st March;
Closed: Tuesdays and some public holidays.
From June to September the museums are open everyday.
Admission
Full rate: €4.50
Reduced rate: €3
Supplement for temporary exhibitions
Group admission: €66 (€88 for temporary exhibition(s))
Permanent collections free everyday for visitors aged under 26, and every first Sunday of the month for everyone.
Bookstore-shop
Find out more about the bookstore-shop
