My Time at the French Foreign Legion Museum - Aubagne France (1 Viewer)

[MCKENNA77]

Hey dudes, hope you’re all well. Myself and KGB just returned from a trip to France. Yes, nothing better than being an idiot aboard and at home as well. Most people who know me know that the French Foreign Legion is right in my wheelhouse. So we decided to visit the FFL garrison in Aubagne which houses a museum on the FFL. Although I don’t consider myself to be the best traveler, I do think that I’m at least decent at it. That being stated, getting to and from Aubagne takes a certain amount of travel fortitude. The town of Aubagne sits roughly 25km from Marseille. Due to time constraints stemming from a late train going from Paris we had to take a taxi from Marseille to Aubagne. That will cost you about 50 euros which although not ideal did give us the opportunity to see the museum with enough time to check out the exhibits. Additionally, be advised that most places are closed in France on Mondays and that most people in France think going 25km is far. Hence you may have to sort through a few taxi drivers before finding someone who will accommodate. Also keep in mind that all taxi’s are metered in France so if you find yourself negotiating a price for a ride well then you’re about ten steps in the wrong direction. So without further ado, below are some of the pics of the museum. You’re reward for finding this very out of the way place is that entrance into the museum is free. Just remember keep it silly stupid.

Ok you haven't really learned to appreciate life until you've ridden in a taxi from this dude. He is an 86 year old man and now I understand where all that gray hair comes from. I've endured some hairy cab rides in my time but nothing on this level. I think at one point I even heard the wind say the Lord's Prayer. If you ever find yourself in this situation just remember to close your eyes because you know, ignorance is bliss.



Earning the kepi blanc


The museum has a pile of old propaganda and movie posters


Uniforms at Camaron. This was a Campaign against Mexico back in 1863 and more or less where the Legion cuts its teeth and gained its reputation


These are the campaign medals earned by Captain Danjou. He was the commanding officer at Camaron and died during the battle. He is the most revered and celebrated Legionaire in its history


The tunic of Captain Danjou


I think this is an old Legion Krupp gun but to be honest I don't really know and my short memory can't fully recall.

 

[mestell]

Looks like you have been visited by Photo Bucket like so many of us have in the past week or so. Welcome to the club . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[MCKENNA77]

Ugh yeah I love it when technology makes my life "easier"

Do you know by chance if there is a work around for this without paying the money

Regards

 

[mestell]

Ugh yeah I love it when technology makes my life "easier"

Do you know by chance if there is a work around for this without paying the money

Regards

I have figured out how to re-size my photos so that I can upload them directly from my computer to TF bypassing Photo Bucket all together . . . . photos posted to TF can not be any larger than 1500 x 1100 . . . . . There is a thread on the Forum Issues titled "Photo Bucket Issues" that gives some additional help and suggestions . . .

https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?62760-Photobucket-Issues/page5

Good Luck . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[TomNT]

Great you and Sarah (KGB) had a great time in Viva La France big fella! Did you manage to get to the Military Museum in Saumur (Musée des Blindés http://www.museedesblindes.fr/) that I suggested mate?

As for your pic's, as Mike suggested if you downsize you will be able to post them directly onto your thread. I use Microsoft Picture Manager and then edit the pictures by resizing to document large 1024 x 768. I lose very little quality (if any) and they are fine to upload onto here.

Tom

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Strongly recommend to use the Forum pic uploader it is straightforward and hassle free....pics are easily accessble and always there when you need them...
I am looking forward to seeing the pics of the FFL Museum, that is no my list to visit along with the Sammur Tank Museum....
Cheers
Luiz

 

[MCKENNA77]

Sorry, testing this Flickr thing out. If not will try to resize them which I really don't prefer to do. I hate reformatted technology.

https://flic.kr/p/Vq6SxP

 

[MCKENNA77]

Ok let me try this again



Hey dudes, hope you’re all well. Myself and KGB just returned from a trip to France. Yes, nothing better than being an idiot aboard and at home as well. Most people who know me know that the French Foreign Legion is right in my wheelhouse. So we decided to visit the FFL garrison in Aubagne which houses a museum on the FFL. Although I don’t consider myself to be the best traveler, I do think that I’m at least decent at it. That being stated, getting to and from Aubagne takes a certain amount of travel fortitude. The town of Aubagne sits roughly 25km from Marseille. Due to time constraints stemming from a late train going from Paris we had to take a taxi from Marseille to Aubagne. That will cost you about 50 euros which although not ideal did give us the opportunity to see the museum with enough time to check out the exhibits. Additionally, be advised that most places are closed in France on Mondays and that most people in France think going 25km is far. Hence you may have to sort through a few taxi drivers before finding someone who will accommodate. Also keep in mind that all taxi’s are metered in France so if you find yourself negotiating a price for a ride well then you’re about ten steps in the wrong direction. So without further ado, below are some of the pics of the museum. You’re reward for finding this very out of the way place is that entrance into the museum is free. Just remember keep it silly stupid.

Ok you haven't really learned to appreciate life until you've ridden in a taxi from this dude. He is an 86 year old man and now I understand where all that gray hair comes from. I've endured some hairy cab rides in my time but nothing on this level. I think at one point I even heard the wind say the Lord's Prayer. If you ever find yourself in this situation just remember to close your eyes because you know, ignorance is bliss.



Issuing of the Kepi blanc



The Legion comes from 150 nationalities these days. Forging the best will of starting over or break with your past in an effort to find the espirit de corps



The Mexico Campaign Uniforms - this is where the Legion cut its teeth and is its most celebrated battle, the Battle of Camerone. Fought on April 30th 1863


The campaign medals of Captain Danjou. One of the Legion's most celebrated officers and the commanding officer at Camerone

 

[MCKENNA77]

The tunic of Captain Danjou



An old Krupp gun



This is a painting of the Legion's campaign in Madagascar in 1895. Unfortunately they probably lost more men due to illness and black water than fighting



Yeah, you know your life span here is something that is really considered highly

 

[MCKENNA77]

In 1944 the Legion participated in the campaign to liberate Italy. The Legion lost around 9,000 men during the course of the conflicts



The Legion was heavily involved in France's fight against the Vietminh in Indochina from 1946 to 1954. 70,000 Legionnaires were in combat, 12,000 of them perished





I'm not 100% sure of what is occurring in this photo but I do know that Captain Danjou's fake hand is being carried by that dude in the wheelchair with one leg. I'm guessing whatever ceremony this is, it's kinda of a big deal



This is a Legion sapper. They always march in the front while on parade to symbolize that the Legion can not only fight but build and that the sappers are opening the road

 

[MCKENNA77]

Other museum items





This is a painting of Captain Danjou. Prior to Camerone, he lost his hand while on a mapping expedition in Algeria due to an accidental musket misfire



This is the crypt, also called the honor room. This is a very sacred place for the FFL. As a Legionnaire you are only allowed in here twice, once upon completing basic training and again upon leaving the order. The crypt's walls are inscribed with the names of officers killed in combat. At center, at mantle level, is the hand of Captain Danjou along with dirt and bones of Camerone's fighters. Additionally, the mortal remains of Lieutenant Maudet are here.

 

[MCKENNA77]

The museum contains a lot of old movie posters depicting the FFL



Faced with an influx of wounded after Indochina the Institution of the Invalids of the FFL was created in 1955. Today, the Legion continues this work by providing support and comfort to all former FFL members who need it. They perform social functions as well as work a vineyard near by. In short, the Legion attempts to take care of their own. The gift shop here was set up like something you would see in a wine tasting room. You can actually buy Legion wine, which we did. I'm not sure it's going to score on Spectator or anything but it does have "earthy" tones.



This picture was taken upon leaving the museum. We tried to get the Legionnaire at the gift shop to call us a taxi. Unfortunately, that dude didn't speak a single word of English. That's pretty common the farther you get from Pairs. So we did what most travelers do when they're temporarily stranded, we fumbled around. We walked back to the city center of Aubagne and found a train station to take us back to Marseille. In the end it worked out, but be advised, taking a taxi back its not really an option from Aubagne. Plus to ride the train was like 4 euros a person. In short, if you're going to visit, plan your day accordingly and take the train to and from Aubagne. As a side note, that train we rode back on was packed. Like India packed. Nothing better than standing almost face to face with some dude who probably showered last week. Yeah welcome to France in the summer.

 

[Artillery_crazy]

Very nice pics indeed, thanks for sharing...
I cracked in laughter over the India packed train face to face with a dude that had not seen a shower for a week.....hahahha...typical.....{sm4}{sm4}{sm4}{sm4}
Cheers
Luiz

 

[Louis Badolato]

Great photos Chris!^&cool^&cool I hope you and KGB enjoyed your adventures!:smile2:

 

[Warrior]

Thanks for sharing your visit to the museum with us, big fan of the FFL...............read an account concerning the siege of Dien Bien Phu; during the closing stages of the battle, officers were running around issuing orders in German...............naturally as a lot of them and the legionnaires there were former SS..............they dropped FFL snipers into Dien Bien Phu, telling them there was no exit plan, ie, no way to get them out, to which they said "This is fine"...............balls of steel.