Come and admire the Malakoff Tower
Built between 1854 and 1855 by a former mayor of Bois-Plage, René-Théodore Phélippot, it stands out from all the other houses on the island for its tower: a large belvedere, served by a wooden spiral staircase with 54 steps, inspired by the Phare des Baleines lighthouse with the same black and white compass rose motif at the foot and its inscription: ‘1854’, the date the semaphore lantern was lit.
The villa itself became a museum/cabinet of curiosities in 1962, with a collection of fossils, engravings, weapons, medals, etc.
In 1905, its famous curator and archaeology enthusiast died, leaving behind an incredible collection that was bought by Ernest Cognacq, founder of La Samaritaine in Paris, who donated it to Saint-Martin, his home village. Part of the collection is now on display at the Ernest Cognacq Museum in the capital of La Retaine.
It owes its name to General Mac Mahon's victory in the Battle of Malakoff in 1855 during the Crimean War.
Today, the site can no longer be visited, but you can still admire the viewpoint above the wrought-iron gate.
The villa itself became a museum/cabinet of curiosities in 1962, with a collection of fossils, engravings, weapons, medals, etc.
In 1905, its famous curator and archaeology enthusiast died, leaving behind an incredible collection that was bought by Ernest Cognacq, founder of La Samaritaine in Paris, who donated it to Saint-Martin, his home village. Part of the collection is now on display at the Ernest Cognacq Museum in the capital of La Retaine.
It owes its name to General Mac Mahon's victory in the Battle of Malakoff in 1855 during the Crimean War.
Today, the site can no longer be visited, but you can still admire the viewpoint above the wrought-iron gate.
