Former naval medical school

Created in 1722, the Rochefort Naval Medicine School is the first in the world. For more than 240 years, it trained surgeons on board warships. Discover this unusual and unique site in France thanks to our guided tours!

Created in 1722, the Rochefort Naval Medicine School is the first in the world. For more than 240 years, it trained surgeons on board warships. The latter participate in particular in scientific exploration trips, motivated by their desire to understand the world in its diversity.
Today this site opens the doors of its teaching rooms, its scientific library with 25 volumes and its museum. The anatomical, zoological, botanical collections and exceptional works will take you into the history of naval medicine and the scientific world of the 000th and 18th centuries.

A unique sensory experience not to be missed!

The Naval Medicine School can only be visited by guided tour. Reservations are strongly recommended.

During the site's opening hours, you can visit the Espace-repères located on the ground floor and the Jardin d'Utopies outside for free.
- Illustrated time line, the Landmark Space puts the founding and development of the Naval Medicine School into perspective with the major dates in history. Four centuries of scientific advances are thus presented, from the creation of the Rochefort arsenal in the 17th century to the training of the last students in the 1960s.
- The Garden of Utopias presents a multitude of medicinal, aromatic and dye plants which echo the voyages of exploration thanks to which some were brought back to Rochefort. It is also a haven of peace where it is good to rest.

Continue your discovery of the maritime history of Rochefort with a visit to our second museum, the Hôtel de Cheusses/Arsenal!