Musée Benoist – Maison de la Forêt
17th-century house in Le Gâvre, now a volunteer-run museum on local history and the forest, with nature outings and events.
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About the museum
The Maison Benoist stands on the Grand-Rue du Gâvre in Loire-Atlantique. It dates from the 17th century; its walls are made of granite rubble and one corner has a turret. Marie Benoist, the family's last heir, died in 1985. She bequeathed the house to the municipality on condition that it host a museum and cultural activities.
An association of volunteers from Le Gâvre and the surrounding area was then formed to run the site under the name Musée Benoist – Maison de la Forêt. It aims to promote and protect the local natural, cultural and historical heritage. It displays objects and information panels and organizes outings in the forest.
The museum tells the story of Le Gâvre and its forest, a remnant of a vast forest that once covered inland Brittany. It covers the settlement of the area since the Neolithic, iron working in the Celtic period, the castle built in the 13th century by Pierre Ier de Bretagne and now gone, and the role of the forest during the World Wars. A model of the castle is displayed in room 6.
Highlights
- 17th-century granite house with a turret
- History of Le Gâvre and its forest, from the Neolithic to the 20th century
- Model of the medieval castle of Le Gâvre, now vanished
- Nature outings, storytelling walks and lyrical hikes in the forest
Permanent exhibition
- Espace muséographique de la Maison Benoist – Permanent exhibition on the history of Le Gâvre and its forest, with objects, information panels and a model of the vanished castle in room 6.
- Operated by
- Association Musée Benoist – Maison de la Forêt
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €2.50free up to age 5 · Child rate for ages 6 to 17. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3 per personPer-adult rate for groups of more than 10 people; €2 per child. |
| Nature outing or activity: adult (16 and over) | €8Advance registration required; half price for members. |
| Nature outing or activity: child | €3Advance registration required; half price for members. |
| Individual annual membership | €15Free and unlimited access to the museum; 50% discount on outings and activities. |
| Couple annual membership | €20 |
| Family annual membership | €25 |
| Reduced annual membership (job seekers, students) | €10 |
Admission prices are those on the Practical information page of the website; the membership card gives free access to the museum.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Child rate for the museum and activities; educational activities with the LPO from age 3 for schools and holiday centers.
Getting there & parking
Outings start at the Maison de la Forêt unless otherwise stated. Three hiking trails in the Gâvre forest are signposted: La Magdeleine (7 km), Chêne de la Messe (6 km) and Pilier (3 km).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided visits of the museum space are offered to groups by reservation (write to the address given on the website). School and holiday-center activities for children from age 3 are offered with the LPO Loire-Atlantique (League for the Protection of Birds), at the museum or in the forest. |
