Initial construction XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
House with wooden panels built.
XVIIe siècle
Transformation into prison
Transformation into prison XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Become Roncheville Vicomtal Prison.
28 septembre 1932
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 28 septembre 1932 (≈ 1932)
Official protection by order.
Fin XIXe siècle
Conversion into museum
Conversion into museum Fin XIXe siècle (≈ 1995)
Welcome to the ethnographic museum.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Vicomtal prison (former): by order of 28 September 1932
Origin and history
Honfleur Vicomtal Prison is a building built in the 16th century, originally as a log house. This building, located on Rue de la Prison, near the old basin, became in the seventeenth century the official prison of the Viscounty of Roncheville. Its typical architecture reflects the construction techniques of the time, with a wooden structure and a use adapted to local judicial needs.
At the end of the 19th century, the building radically changed its vocation by welcoming the Honfleur Ethnographic Museum. This change marks a transition to a cultural and heritage enhancement of the building. Official recognition took place in 1932, when the vicomtal prison was classified as historical monuments by ministerial decree, emphasizing its historical and architectural importance.
Today, the building still houses a museum, the Museum of Ethnography and Popular Arts, as well as a Marine Museum. These institutions perpetuate local memory while providing an overview of the region's maritime traditions and history. The property of the building belongs to the municipality of Honfleur, guaranteeing its preservation and accessibility to the public.
