Within a 19th-century vermicelli mill, this intriguing museum follows the adventures of explorer Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de Lapérouse, born in Albi in 1741. From 1785 he sailed around the Pacific Ocean, describing Hawaii charing eastern Siberia (where there's still a Lapérouse Bay) and arriving at Botany Bay less than a week after British convict-colonists. In 1788, however, Lapérouse and his boats mysteriously disappeared, presumed sunk on reefs of the Solomon Islands.
His observations suggest a respect for locals and he refrained from flag-planting colonial posturing. Much of his research was saved by the uncle of Ferdinand Lesseps (builder of the Suez Canal), who was dropped off in Kamchatka and managed to ride all the way back to Paris crossing Russia by horse.
