‘Explorations : une affaire d’État ?’ (Explorations: a matter of state?)

Spotlight on three centuries of French exploration

The exhibition ‘Explorations : une affaire d’État ?’ (Explorations: a matter of state?) presented at the Army Museum from 15 April 2026 highlights French scientific and military explorations from the 18th to the 20th century through archives, scientific and technical objects, works of art and testimonies. It puts into perspective the evolution of France's motivations and ambitions over the decades, such as the discovery of the world, scientific missions, territorial conquests, and the race to space and the depths of the ocean.