Bathyscaphe FNRS 3

The FNRS III entered the collections of the Musée National de la Marine in 1996, and occupies a unique place in the history of underwater exploration. Built in 1951 in Toulon by the French Navy and the Direction des constructions navales, it is based on the work of Professor Auguste Piccard - who inspired Hergé to create the character of Professor Tournesol. The first autonomous bathyscaphe designed to reach great depths, in 1954 it set a world record for manned diving off Dakar, with a descent to 4,050 meters.

An emblematic feature of the Toulon landscape, the FNRS III has been installed in the gardens of the Tour Royale for several decades. This location, highly exposed to sea spray and the mistral wind, has led to corrosion of the metal sheet, despite two restorations in 1992 and 2005. Now in an advanced state of deterioration, the bathyscaphe requires fundamental restoration. A new location is also being considered, in close consultation with the City of Toulon, to ensure the long-term preservation of this jewel of France's maritime heritage.