The Musée Le Secq des Tournelles is a museum dedicated to the iron arts. It is located inside an ancient deconsecrated church of the fifteenth century. Founded in 1920, it preserves a collection of iron arts with objects of artistic or picturesque quality made of iron or iron compounds. The collection historically extends from the Gallo-Roman period to the 20th century and includes pieces from all over Europe (Germany, England, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia) and some oriental objects (Arab countries, India). Very elaborate works of art (articulated locks, silversmith's works) are flanked by splendid folk art objects (signs, vases). Only traditional weapons were excluded, as they were already collected by others. There are proprietary signs and brands, cutlery, tools of commerce, ornamental objects, equipment and decorations of the church, of the house or of doors and gates and above all locks, safes and boxes

The idea of such a collection is due to Jean-Louis-Henri Le Secq Destournelles (1818-1882), a painter trained in Paris and Rome, as well as one of the first French photographers. As a photographer he was commissioned by Prosper Mérimée to photograph the historical monuments of France (1845). It is undoubtedly in the course of his missions that he discovered the pieces of iron that adorned cities or old monuments. He then began a collection around 1865, later continued by his son and finally donated to the city of Rouen.