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Gravelines

The Musée de l’Estampe

The only French museum devoted to printed art, in a 1742 powder magazine

Gravelines' former castle-arsenal and its gardens
Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), source, CC BY 3.0

The essentials

Where
Gravelines
How long
An hour and a half
Price
Charged
  • Unique in France
  • 21,000 pieces
  • 1742 powder magazine
  • For a rainy day
What to do in Gravelines?

This is the only French museum devoted to printed art: engraving, prints, drawing. Nearly twenty-one thousand pieces, from the 15th century to today.

And the building is as much worth the visit as the collection: Gravelines' former castle-arsenal, its main body a 1742 powder magazine, with three Renaissance defensive casemates later reworked by Vauban.

What you’ll see

The collection spans five centuries and is shown in rotation — a print collection isn't displayed permanently, light damages it. There's therefore always a temporary exhibition, and that's what makes the visit.

The engraving workshops work best with children: you see how a plate becomes an image, which is more compelling than any display case.

The building

You pass through the casemates to move from one room to another. The walls are several metres thick, it's cool inside in summer, and walking through it you understand what "fortress town" really meant.

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    3 activities to book

    What activities to do in Gravelines?

    Our favourite

    For the star-shaped town

    Le tour des remparts

    Vauban's fortifications are explored on foot, along the ramparts and beside the moats.

    1 h · on foot

    For Petit-Fort-Philippe lighthouse

    Le phare de Petit-Fort-Philippe

    The black-and-white lighthouse can be climbed for the view over the beach and the harbour.

    30 min · climb

    For kayaking and paddleboarding on the Aa

    Le kayak et le paddle sur l'Aa

    The Parc des Rives de l'Aa watersports base rents kayaks and paddleboards on the lake.

    1 h · rental

    Our 3 restaurants

    Where to eat in Gravelines?

    Our favourite

    To eat in Petit-Fort-Philippe

    Au Beau Rivage

    A restaurant on boulevard Léo Lagrange, on the beach side.

    Restaurant · 7 boulevard Léo Lagrange

    For seafood

    Au Retour d'Islande

    A fish and seafood restaurant in Gravelines.

    Fish and seafood · Gravelines

    For lunch or afternoon tea

    Le Local

    A restaurant-tearoom, place du Polder.

    Restaurant-tearoom · place du Polder

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