Foreign Legion Museum

From the conquest of Algeria through the colonial wars to the world wars, the Foreign Legion has earned prestige for the many battles it has fought. So much so that today, an entire museum is dedicated to this military corps: the Musée de la Légion étrangère, in Aubagne, near Marseille.

The Foreign Legion: a brief history

The Foreign Legion was created by King Louis-Philippe on March 10, 1831, as part of the conquest of Algeria. At the time, the Legion troop was made up of various foreign corps from the French Army. Moreover, the law authorized the formation of battalions made up of natives and foreigners. That said, the Legion was only to operate outside the Kingdom’s mainland territory.

After some 20 years in Algeria, the Legion left for other wars: the Crimea (1854-1856), the Italian campaign (1859), the Mexican expedition (1863-1867). The battle at the hacienda de Camaron de Tejeda, on April 30, 1863, left its mark on the Legion. The battle was fought by 62 Legionnaires, led by Captain Jean Danjou, against 2,000 Mexicans. Despite severe losses, the combatants did not surrender until they were down to 3 able-bodied soldiers. This was nonetheless considered a victory, as the soldiers honored their words to remain faithful to their life-giving contract.

The Legion also took part in the World Wars, the Indochina War and Operation Barkhane. Today, the képis blancs are involved in a wide range of operations around the world, such as protecting the space center in French Guiana.

The Foreign Legion Museum: a cultural and educational center in Aubagne

The Musée de la Légion Etrangère is an old museum dating from the 60s, which was given a facelift in 2013 with a well-thought-out scenography. Labelled a “musée de France”, it is the main military museum in the Bouches-du-Rhône département. In fact, 25,000 people visit this special museum in Aubagne every year.

The Musée de la Légion Etrangère originally targets legionnaires or those who aspire to one day wear the honorable white kepi, through exhibitions and collections of objects that tell the story of this great institution that is the Legion. Of course, the museum is also open to anyone wishing to learn more about the history of this military corps. The museum has both a cultural and educational vocation. Today, the museum is managed by the SAMLE association (Société des Amis du Musée de la Légion Étrangère).

What to see in the museum

The Musée de la Légion Etrangère in Aubagne is a 2,000m² museum that plunges you into the history of France’s most famous military corps. It’s a sanctuary filled with memories that, when visited, create a certain emotion and leave no one indifferent.

In this Bouches-du-Rhône museum, you’ll find permanent displays of paintings, uniforms, photos, medals, weapons, anthropological mannequins and portraits of famous legionnaires. Perhaps the most striking features are the collections of ancient objects that once belonged to the soldiers who went to war. For more in-depth research, head to the museum’s documentation center, where you’ll find over 10,000 books about the Legion.

If you’re visiting the area, you can drop in from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 12pm or 2pm to 6pm. Admission is free, and the museum is wheelchair accessible! This souvenir site is located near the Youcamp campsite in Aubagne, a 3-star campsite about a quarter of an hour from Marseille.