Museum of Brittany, Rennes

Housed within Rennes’ cultural complex Les Champs Libres, the Museum of Brittany serves as the region’s principal museum of history and society, exploring Brittany’s past from prehistory to the modern day. Its collections encompass over 2,300 objects and 600,000 archival items, presented through galleries that combine archaeology, everyday artifacts, photographs, and oral testimonies to portray the evolution of the region’s landscapes, languages, and communities.

The permanent exhibition, A History of Brittany, offers a clear, multilingual journey through the centuries. Many temporary exhibitions provide additional features such as English audio guides, tactile maps, and video presentations; notable highlights include Carnivals and an exhibition on the Dreyfus Affair.

The museum’s thematic, accessible layout allows visitors to connect historical events and traditions with the places and culture they encounter throughout Rennes and the wider Breton coast. Because it sits within Les Champs Libres center, a visit naturally links with the neighbouring Science Centre and the metropolitan library under the same roof.