Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The National Gendarmerie Museum was inaugurated in 1946 at the Gendarmerie Officer School in Melun. Created to preserve and enhance the history of this institution, it experienced several expansions before closing in 2007 for a complete renovation. This project, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Community of Greater Melun Val de Seine, allowed its reopening in 2015 in a new building adjacent to the Officer School. Today, the museum exhibits more than 30,000 objects, including uniforms, weapons, paintings and documents, illustrating the evolution of the gendarmerie from its medieval origins (the tidewater) to the contemporary era.

The permanent exhibition, organized over 1,200 m2, features 44 gendarmes silhouettes and iconic elements such as horses and motorcycles, to tell the story of France through the prism of the gendarmerie. Topics covered include the Hundred Years War, the Revolution, world wars, or the colonial role of the gendarmerie. Since 2015, the museum has also offered annual temporary exhibitions, such as "La Grande Guerre des gendarmes" (2016) or "Le gendarme et le sport" (2024), as well as a resource centre and educational workshops.

The museum won the label "Musée de France" in 2011, recognizing the quality of its collections and museumography. Its spaces also include a conference room and a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions (200 m2). The collections cover various fields: historical uniforms, weapons (white, fire), decorations, faiences, and even popular objects such as puppets or board games. The former building, a 19th century barracks (Augereau Box), has been reconverted to house this major cultural and historical project.

Temporary exhibitions explore original themes such as "The Gendarmerie of the World" (2018) or "Animals and gendarmes" (2019), attracting a diverse audience. The museum relies on a photo library of 10,000 photographs and rich archives to document the evolution of police techniques, criminal science, and the image of the gendarme in society. Its educational role is strengthened through partnerships with institutions such as the National Gendarmerie Criminal Research Institute (IRCGN).

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