Early Modern · Architecture

Musée national des douanes

Bordeaux

The Musée national des douanes is a French art and history museum inaugurated in 1984 and located in the hôtel des Douanes in Bordeaux. It presents the history and missions of the customs administration from the modern era to the present, and offers a view of part of the history of France through this institution. The museum is described as unique in France for its dynamic cultural programme based on national and local events, and it includes exhibition space for temporary displays devoted to specific themes.

The museum is housed in the customs clearance hall of the former King’s Farms hotel, on the edge of Place de la Bourse. The building was constructed between 1735 and 1738 for the Ferme Générale, a private company that was an ancestor of customs under the Ancien Régime. It is classified as a historical monument for its facades, courtyard, and the woodwork of an old salon. The classical facade was designed by Jacques Gabriel, while the pediments and the fountain in the inner courtyard were created by Jacques Verberckt. The large hall now contains the collections of Histoire et architecture, including works such as Claude Monet’s Cabane des douaniers and the document Relevé de la population dans les colonies françaises en 1789.

Map showing the location of Musée national des douanes in Bordeaux
Location of Musée national des douanes in Bordeaux

Nearby Objects

Museum in the Hotel des Douanes

The Musee national des douanes is a French art and history museum inaugurated in 1984 and located in the hotel des Douanes in Bordeaux. It presents the history and missions of the customs administration from the modern era to the present, and through this subject also offers part of the history of France. The museum is noted as unique in France for its dynamic cultural program, which is based on national and local events. It also includes an exhibition space for temporary exhibits, allowing specific themes to be explored and broadening the scope of the museum's presentation.

Architecture and Museum Setting

The Histoire et architecture section is located in the customs clearance hall of the former Kings Farms hotel, which borders the Place de la Bourse. The building was constructed between 1735 and 1738 to house the Ferme Generale, a private company and ancestor of customs under the Ancien Regime. It later housed the Interregional Customs Directorate of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

The building is classified as a historical monument for its facades, courtyard, and the woodwork of an old salon. Its facade was designed by Jacques Gabriel in a classical style. The pediments, representing Mercury favoring the Commerce of the Garonne and Minerva protecting the Arts, were created by the Flemish decorator Jacques Verberckt, who also designed the fountain called a congelations with decorative motifs on the wall of the inner courtyard.

The building is organized around a rectangular courtyard where goods were received before and after customs clearance in the large hall. That same large hall now hosts the collections of the Histoire et architecture museum. After closing for renovations, the museum reopened during the European Night of Museums event, with a renewed scenography designed by Bordeaux architect Isabelle Fourcade.

Historical Collections

The collections historiques du musee preserves nearly objects today. Among its holdings are Claude Monet, Cabane des douaniers from 1882 and the Releve de la population dans les colonies francaises en 1789 document. These items indicate that the museum collections include both artwork and historical records, giving the institution a broader documentary and cultural role.