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The only museum in the world dedicated to seaplanes. Wonderful flying and... floating. A visit with Saint-Exupéry, Mermoz...
Get ready for a journey between sky and water! Located on the former Latécoère base, the Musée de l'Hydraviation (a scientific and technical museum) tells the story of the world of seaplanes. The only museum in the world specifically dedicated to seaplanes, it invites visitors to enter the legend of transatlantic flights to New York or Fort-de-France during the golden age of seaplanes. Let yourself be transported through the ages, as you wander through the various rooms of the museum, and discover the fabulous stories of these giant liners. A wide range of media and collection items invite you to enjoy a unique experience, following in the footsteps of such great names as Latécoère, Saint-Exupéry and Mermoz. The museum's most recent acquisition: the Grumman Albatross, with its 25-meter wingspan, the only one of its kind in France! Since 2020, visitors have also been able to visit a Canadair CL 215 cockpit, restored by volunteers from the Association des Amis du Musée. In addition, the "Visite Musée" digital application allows you to discover the pieces in the collection. Ask for the free "Bienvenue à bord" guide for children aged 3 to 12, a fun way to visit the museum. The store also offers a wide selection of souvenirs, gifts and books to prolong your journey through the epic of hydraviation.
Following a project to overhaul the museum's scenography and museography, the museum will be closed
from September 2025 to May 2026.
Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.
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Further information
Opening time and information on HYDRAVIATION MUSEUM
Quality Tourism. February to September (every day except Monday, 10am to 7pm in high season; 2pm to 6pm in low season). From €3.50 to €10. Large family package (3 children or more). Vacation vouchers. Guided tour. Gift store.
Owner's Message
The museum
The Hydraviation museum, municipal cultural and tourist establishment four seasons with the appellation Museum of France and the state mark Quality Tourism is the place of memory of the base Latécoère of assembly and tests of seaplane, but also of commemoration of a century of aeronautical history. From transatlantic flights to New York and Fort-de-France to firefighting, you will discover the world of these airliners of yesterday and today!
Our aeronautical museum presents, within the framework of its temporary and permanent exhibitions, restored seaplanes, uniforms, souvenirs of famous pilots, reproductions, photographs, engines, propellers, archival documents, flight logs, trophies, suits, paintings by Air Force and Navy painters... A variety of materials that invite you to live a unique experience in the footsteps of great names: Latécoère, Saint-Exupéry, Mermoz, Guillaumet and many others.
A real journey back in time on 1250 m², in the heart of buildings once occupied by the workers of the Landes hydrobase at the beginning of the 20th century.
The visit
We put at your disposal complete and detailed cards which will allow you to evolve easily within the various pavilions of the Museum of the Hydraviation, in Biscarrosse. Because the Hydraviation Museum welcomes a public coming from all over the world, we put at the disposal of all of them cards in four languages : French, English, Spanish, German. For the young public, in addition to the family visits proposed by the Museum, children booklets are available to enhance the visit of the museum with children from 3 to 12 years old. Discover the documents here: https://www.hydravions-biscarrosse.com/aide-a-la-visite.php
We have developed a digital application for smartphone and tablet. It allows you to visit the Museum directly on your devices! Whether you are at home, or in the different spaces of the museum, this application allows you to discover the history of the hydraviation in a few minutes. Go to the AppStore (https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/biscarrosse-visite-mus%C3%A9e/id1466751855) or Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.alienor.musee.hydraviationbiscarrosse&hl=fr&gl=US)
During the guided tour, which lasts about 1h30, our lecturer will retrace for you the history of seaplanes from all over the world, from the precursors to the most recent machines. Throughout the tour, you will be able to admire archival documents, personal souvenirs, spare parts and authentic, fully renovated seaplanes. The guided group tour can be given in French, English and German by reservation only. For all group tour reservations, with or without a mediator guide, reservations must be made at least one month before the desired date. Please contact the Museum to request a reservation, by phone at 05.58.78.00.65 or by e-mail.
The temporary exhibition "Chasseurs d'image : la photographie aéronautique" from July 1st 2021 to January 2nd 2023
The temporary exhibition 2021-2022 "CHASSEURS D'IMAGES" is dedicated to aeronautical photography. Aviation has always been a dream and photography immortalizes it. Whether amateur or professional, the aeronautical photographer remains a passionate person, and a passion is shared! By getting as close as possible to the aircraft, to the men and women who fly them, to the crews or to the ground staff (mechanics, yellow dogs...) the "image hunter" sublimates, thanks to his shots, the alchemy that is created between man and mechanics. The International Seaplane Meeting of Biscarrosse, which celebrates in 2021 its 30th anniversary (1991-2021) remains an unavoidable event and constitutes a formidable playground, very appreciated by the image hunters: on the ground or in the air in the wake of seaplanes or airshows, the "image hunter" is in ambush
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Members' reviews on HYDRAVIATION MUSEUM
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
À visiter même si vous n’êtes pas passionné par ça, la visite vaut le détour car quand on voit avec quoi ils ont commencé à voler au-dessus de l’eau, nos ancêtres avec des qu…..