The Napoleon Museum in Vedado, near the University of Havana, fills a sumptuous mansion with objects connected to Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Revolution and the Second Empire. Its collection includes military equipment, weapons, furniture and coins, alongside Napoleon’s death mask and telescope, which his last doctor brought to Cuba. Look through the decorated 19th-century rooms, then step into the secluded garden. Admission is free, and a donation is suggested to help with maintenance.
A mansion in Vedado
The museum is in Vedado, close to the University of Havana. The building was once the home of Orestes Ferrara, a sugar magnate whose properties were seized by the government that came to power in 1959.
Its rooms are decorated in a 19th-century style, giving the collection a setting that contrasts with Havana’s distance from France. A secluded garden provides another part of the visit.
Objects from Napoleon’s era
The collection brings together objects associated with Napoleon Bonaparte and periods of French history from the Revolution through the Second Empire. Weapons, military equipment, furniture and coins sit alongside personal objects linked to the emperor.
Among the most distinctive pieces are Napoleon’s death mask and telescope. His last doctor brought both items to Cuba. The museum also holds objects connected to the French Revolution, a period whose challenge to unjust leadership has particular relevance in Cuba.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is the Napoleon Museum in Havana?
It is in Vedado, near the University of Havana.
Is there an admission fee?
Admission is free. A donation is suggested to support maintenance.
What can you see at the Napoleon Museum?
The collection includes weapons, military equipment, furniture, coins, Napoleon’s death mask and his telescope.
