Three centuries of military and scientific explorations at the Army Museum.

From the depths to space. Entitled “Explorations: A State Affair?”, this exhibition highlights major French explorations, especially maritime ones, and their underlying stakes, from the 18th century to the present day. It takes place from April 15 to August 16, 2026 at the Musée de l’Armée in Paris.

Three years of work were necessary for the museum team, located at the Hôtel national des Invalides in Paris, to conceive and carry out this exhibition, which traces three centuries of French explorations, from the Age of Enlightenment to today, and brings together about 250 objects: models, photos, drawings, manuscripts, portraits of explorers, uniforms, weapons.

“We borrowed pieces from about thirty French institutions to complement our collection,” said Lucile Paraponaris from Mer et Marine, in charge of researching origins, department of inventory, dissemination and history of the museum’s collections, and exhibition curator.

National Museum of the Navy, the Human Diving and Underwater Intervention Expert Center (CEPHISMER) of the French Navy in Toulon, Piriou shipyards in Concarneau, the French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor in Plouzané or the National Museum of Natural History have contributed part of their collection to enrich this unprecedented exhibition, organized chronologically and thematically.

South Hemisphere:

It all begins in 1763, after the Seven Years’ War, which saw France lose a large part of its colonial empire in America to the United Kingdom. This period marked strong rivalry with the UK and the Netherlands for control of maritime routes. At the same time, the French monarchy sought a way to exist against other European powers and catch up in exploring the world.

In this context, scientific, military, and engineering personnel were mobilized to undertake major maritime expeditions, particularly in the southern hemisphere. The main motivation was to map this poorly-known area and solve the myth of Terra Australis Incognita, which suggested a vast unknown continent in the southern hemisphere balancing the weight of the Earth with the northern lands.

Louis-Antoine de Bougainville and Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec led the first major expeditions in the southern hemisphere, discovering new islands in the Pacific and the southern Indian Ocean. However, it was the British explorer James Cook who ended the myth and explored vast regions of the Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Hawaii, and areas near Antarctica.

Baudin Expedition:

Following explorations by officers like Jean-François de La Pérouse and Jules Dumont d’Urville, Nicolas Baudin’s significant scientific contribution was considerable. From 1800 to 1804, his scientific exploration voyage collected tens of thousands of specimens, including plants, minerals, and animals, some unknown in Europe, enriching the National Museum of Natural History collections.

Apart from the Baudin expedition, which included many scientists, later expeditions had fewer civilians onboard, mainly composed of military personnel appreciated for their scientific skills in cartography or hydrography, continuously improving.

Explorations Merging Military and Science:

A new form of exploration blending military and science emerged after the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars: scientific commissions accompanying military campaigns in Egypt, Moria (current Peloponnese), Algeria, and Mexico. These missions aimed to expand French areas of influence, first establishing treaties with local populations and later developing communication routes and commerce.

FNRS III Bathyscaphe and Mousquemers:

The fourth and final part of the exhibition focuses on modern exploration, from space to the depths. It includes the record deep-sea dive of 4050 meters with the French Navy’s FNRS III bathyscaphe in 1954. The exhibition also mentions the pioneer group of underwater diving explorers, the “Mousquemers,” who made significant discoveries. Recently, in 2025, the deepest known wreck in French waters (over 2500 meters) was found off Ramatuelle during a military operation to master the seabed.

Numerous events are organized alongside the exhibition, which runs from April 15 to August 16. A highlight is the conference by geographer and geo-historian Fabrice Argounès on May 6, titled “Explorations of Others,” showcasing discoveries from different states.

An article from the Mer et Marine editorial team. Reproduction without the author’s consent is prohibited.