Musée Hèbre Museums in Rochefort

The Hèbre Museum, located in Rochefort, is a rich and diverse cultural venue that brings together the Museum of Art and History and the city's Heritage Department. It is housed in the former Hôtel Hèbre de Saint-Clément, an 18th-century mansion.

Collections and themes

• Art and History: The museum has extensive collections ranging from fine arts to non-Western ethnology. You will find orientalist paintings, portraits, realistic landscapes, as well as objects brought back from all over the world.
• Explorations and Travels: A significant portion of the collections bears witness to the adventurous spirit of Rochefort and its famous explorers. There you will find cosmopolitan objects, masks, jewelry, and statuettes brought back from Oceania and Asia, notably from the expeditions of the Lesson brothers and the naval officers Silvestre and Hazard.
• Aboriginal Art: The Hèbre Museum houses an exceptional collection of Australian Aboriginal art, including bark paintings from Arnhem Land, which is the second largest in France after that of the Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac Museum.
• Pierre Loti: A space is dedicated to the writer-traveler Pierre Loti, with part of his collections. A multimedia device even allows a virtual 3D tour of his house, reopened in June 2025.
• Local and urban history: On the ground floor, the CIAP (Centre for the Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage) provides keys to understanding the city and its evolution. A spectacular relief map of Rochefort, created in 1835, is at the heart of an interactive tour recounting the highlights of the city's urban and social history, from its foundation in 1666 to the present day.