Ongoing
Rochefort - Ancienne école de médecine navale
The Naval Medical School: A Pavilion Like No Other
Through reproductions of archives from the Historical Defense Service, discover the various functions of the Naval Medical School and its architectural transformations over the years.
A Journey Through the Years and the School’s Transformations
Founded in 1722, the Naval Medical School operated for about sixty years within the Charente Hospital at Rochefort Arsenal. Following the construction of a new Naval Hospital in 1788, the school was moved into the pavilion it still occupies today.
The school spread over the pavilion’s three levels, with the ground floor playing a central role in daily life. For over 150 years, the current “Salle des Actes” served for teaching and official functions. Since 1998, it has been a visitor space whose decoration recalls the institution’s prestige.
Today, the archives preserved by the Historical Defense Service document the school’s various roles and architectural changes through the years.
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Enlarge image : Historic postcard showing the Naval Medical School of Rochefort, featuring a view of the building and surrounding gardens, early 20th century
Postcards depicting the Marine Hospital, undated
SHD, MR 100 S 2
© Service historique de la Défense
From: June 11, 2025
Opening hours: 11 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30 PM–4 PM
Every day except Tuesday, from June 11 to July 1
Every day from July 2 to September 1
Every day except Tuesday, from September 2 to October 31
Former Naval Medical School – 25 rue amiral Meyer, 17300 Rochefort
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