Musée National de l'Éducation in Rouen

Museum in Rouen

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Pymouss

The Musée National de l’Éducation in Rouen provides a fascinating look at how education in France has evolved over the centuries. Founded in 1879 by Jules Ferry—who played a major role in establishing free, secular, and compulsory education—the museum holds the most extensive educational heritage collection in Europe, comprising more than 950,000 objects and documents. It explores the relationship between schooling and society, drawing connections between what was taught in the classroom and the values that shaped generations of French citizens.

The museum is based in the Maison des Quatre Fils Aymon, a striking 15th-century half-timbered building located in Rouen’s historic core. Its intimate, period-rich setting adds to the experience of stepping back in time. A second site, just outside the city in Bihorel, functions as a research and archival center, offering access to vast reserves of materials including manuscripts, photographs, and teaching aids. Together, these spaces support both public visitors and academic researchers, reflecting the museum’s dual role as a cultural institution and scholarly resource.

Among the most engaging features of the museum is the recreation of a late 19th-century classroom, where visitors can sit at polished wooden desks and imagine what it was like to be a student during the Jules Ferry era. Exhibits span from chalk slates and educational toys to scientific instruments and school uniforms, often arranged with a thoughtful touch of nostalgia. Regularly changing exhibitions delve into topics ranging from the evolution of educational imagery to the cultural impact of childhood songs, literature, and television, making the museum both historically rich and thematically playful.

The Musée National de l'Éducation in Rouen appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Rouen!

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