Hello,

You are one of twenty-five French who visit, on average, the island of Saint Helena each year. Welcome.

That you arrived here by cruise ship, yacht or the RMS St Helena, means you have a return ticket. You are free. And it is this freedom which will allow you to discover an island far from that of the legend and which contrasts surprisingly with the dark, gigantic cliffs that form its contours.

The Napoleonic sites on the island became, since 1857, the French properties, managed and serviced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. For several years now, visitors of passage – between five and six thousand people according to the years - have been able to discover the existence of what has become a real museum with nine hundred articles on display including nearly one hundred original pieces of furniture. Our aim is to return the house to its original aspect of 1821, the year of the death of Napoleon. We almost feel that we have achieved this because many visitors believing the museum’s development to be funded by the French Government have commented so. In fact, the museographic conservation is not dealt with by the French state but only by your gifts, which are managed by the Foundation Napoleon in Paris - 148, Haussmann Boulevard - 75008 PARIS - http://www.napoleon.org/fr/fondation/ .

Each year, according to the funds received, we decide together the projects that we want to undertake to improve and develop the museum.

In order to reduce the cost of the management of the Napoleonic "museums", the Government of Saint Helena has generously agreed to deal with the tours – open from Monday to Friday by prior arrangement with the Tourism Office (see link on links page) – and with the security of the sites without imposing an import duty on goods used for the properties. Unfortunately, the personnel available on the island and the extremely reduced number of French visitors do not allow them to be able to organize tours conducted in French. On the other hand you will find at your disposal explanatory cards on entry to each room in the house. But above all, do not forget to return and to telephone or visit the Tourist Bureau to book your tour on the day of your choice.

I wish you a good visit,

 

Michel Dancoisne-Martineau

 

Longwood House

lle de Sainte-Hélène -  STHL 1 ZZ

Océan Atlantique Sud

Téléphone : + 290 4409

Télécopie : + 290 4996

dom.france@helanta.sh