The Emperor’s Long-boat, a superb 18-meter long vessel, built in 1810 on the occasion of Napoleon I’s visit to the port of Antwerp, had won the arsenal of Brest in 1814, only to leave it only in 1943 to escape Great Britain’s bombings during WWII.
The engineer Guillemard provides the plans for the boat, while the master Théau, from Granville, supervises the construction. The decorative elements are entrusted to the Antwerp sculptor Van Petersen. In just 21 days the boat is ready. It is over 18 meters long: the rear third is dominated by a spacious deckhouse to accommodate the personalities, while the rowers occupy all the rest of the space. Its decor is of simple beauty and represents well the Empire style impulsed by Napoleon’s reign.