Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Saint-Lô

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1835 by the Society of Agriculture, Archaeology and Natural History of the Manche, under the name Musée des Beaux-Arts. It was enriched by donations from aristocratic families of the Manche, then moved into a municipal building constructed at the end of the 19th century. In 1940, the art collections were evacuated to escape the war; they were largely saved from the bombings of 1944, while the natural history and numismatic collections were destroyed or stolen.

After a stay in the new town hall in 1958, the museum found its present home in 1989 in a large cultural center designed by architect Eugène Leseney, which also houses a media library and a drawing school. The route imitates a walk through the streets of Saint-Lô, with courtyards, light wells and narrow corridors.

The museum traces the history of the city over more than 2000 years, with a large section devoted to the destruction of 1944 and the reconstruction. Its fine arts holdings include paintings by Corot, Boudin, Moreau and Rigaud, a set of eight 16th- and 17th-century tapestries telling the love story of Gombault and Macée, and contemporary tapestries.

Highlights

• Torigny marble, Gallo-Roman statue base from 238
• Model of Saint-Lô as bombed in 1944 and interiors of the reconstruction
• Tapestries “Les amours de Gombault et Macée”
• Paintings by Corot, Boudin, Gustave Moreau and Hyacinthe Rigaud
• Saint-Lô coin hoard and portrait of Jean Follain by Maurice Denis
• Touch tables and activity booklets for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Histoire de Saint-Lô et Reconstruction – City history: Torigny marble, the Saint-Lô treasure, a model of the city as bombed in 1944 and interiors from the reconstruction.
• Beaux-arts – Paintings by Corot, Boudin, Moreau and Rigaud, tapestries of the love story of Gombault and Macée, portraits of the Monaco family and contemporary tapestries.

Founded

1835

Operated by

Ville de Saint-Lô

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month, European Museum Night and European Heritage Days

Prices as of January 1, 2026. Also free for members of the Amis des musées municipaux association, ICOM/ICOMOS members, tour guides, holders of the Culture card, the Museopass, the Kiosk Agglo and Spot 50 cards, journalists, and city and CCAS staff. A pass for 2 museums (the Musée d’art et d’histoire and the Musée du bocage normand) costs €7.50 (€4 reduced).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The museum is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility; a wheelchair and folding seats are lent free of charge. An easy-to-read and easy-to-understand guide in French (FALC) is available at the reception desk.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Touch and play tables along the route, activity booklets and many events; the museum follows the Môm’art charter. Restrooms are equipped with a baby changing table.

Getting there & parking

Access via the Place du Champ de Mars in the town center, in the La Source cultural center, which also houses the media library and drawing school.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Shop open to all in the reception area (books, souvenirs, postcards). Cloakroom at the reception; the museum accepts no liability for loss or theft. Picnic area and bicycle racks nearby.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 200 guests.

Rental of rooms covering 1,200 m²: entrance hall (100 people), tapestry rotunda (70), exhibition hall (150 to 200) and workshop or meeting room (25). Caterer of the client’s choice; film shoots possible.

Plan your visit