History & Inspiration
Jean-Baptiste Marchand was a French general and explorer, born in 1863 in Thoissey, just a short distance from Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne. In 1896, he took part in the Congo–Nile expedition, an extraordinary journey that crossed Africa from west to east over nearly 4,500 kilometres. Renowned for his humanity and loyalty, he showed deep respect for local populations and traditional political structures.
This room, entirely adorned with objects and mementos brought back from Africa, echoes the remarkable journey of the explorers involved in the Marchand expedition.
