Historic site and monument

Monumental door of the Musée national de la Marine

Toulon

The monumental gateway to the Musée National de la Marine, a listed historic monument, was once the entrance to the Toulon naval base. Built in the 18th century, it was relocated and placed on the museum's façade in 1976.

Measuring 13.50 m high and 11.50 m wide, the monumental gate was built in 1738 to the designs of master sculptor Jean-Lange Maucord. Originally the entrance gate to the arsenal, it ceased to be used in 1956 and was moved in 1976 (on rails) to be placed on the façade of the Musée de la Marine.

It was designed like a Roman temple, with a central semicircular bay housing the entrance door, flanked on either side by a forebody with two columns supporting a 2.20 m-high statue in Calissanne stone.
The statue on the right, sculpted by Maucord, represents Minerva, goddess of ingenuity and reason, while the one on the left, depicting Mars, god of war, is by his son-in-law Jean-Michel Verdiguier.
The door is surmounted by an attic featuring a large shield surrounded by arms and flags. On either side, a small genie supports a bouquet of palms and laurels: these sculptures were created by Joseph Hubac.

Theme

  • Historic patrimony
People with reduced mobility accessibility

Spoken languages

  • French

Accessibility

Accessibility criteria for hearing disabilities

The audioguide can be fitted with a magnetic induction loop on request. Fee of €2 for free admission. Commentary is available in French, English, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch.

Accessibility criteria for intellectual disabilities

Our mediators are used to presenting the collections to the mentally handicapped.

Accessibility criteria for physical disabilities

Visit the museum independently The entire building is accessible to disabled visitors and wheelchair users. An elevator to the museum's 1st floor is available on request from reception.

Accessibility criteria for visual disabilities

A Braille booklet is available free of charge from reception. It presents the arsenal's former monumental gateway and the evolution of Toulon's port through relief drawings. Along the way, you can discover : 1 tactile model of a 74-gun vessel 1 tactile model of a galley 1 object from the permanent collections to touch: a contemporary naval torpedo.

Equipment / Services / Activities

  • Reception of people with reduced mobility

Location

  • Cities
  • En ville
  • On the port
  • Seaview

Prices

Free access.

Opening

All year round daily.
Historic site and monument
Monumental door of the Musée national de la Marine
Musée National de la Marine Place Monsenergue Quai de Norfolk 83000 Toulon
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