Musée de Préhistoire de Carnac

About the museum

The museum’s origins go back to the Scottish archaeologist James Miln, who died in 1881 and had gathered objects from his excavations around Carnac. His brother funded a building to house them, and in the 1880s the museum was entrusted to the town. Zacharie Le Rouzic, first a keeper and then a curator, looked after the collections for many years and bequeathed his own objects in 1926, which explains the name associated with the museum.

After being attached to the University of Rennes between 1946 and 1958, the museum returned to the town. In 1984 it moved into the former presbytery in central Carnac, where it remains today. It holds the “Musée de France” label, and its collections are protected as historic monuments.

The route follows the human history of the region from the Paleolithic to the Gallo-Roman period, roughly 450,000 years. The Neolithic plays a central role, with the daily life of the megalith builders, large axes of Alpine jade and ornaments of callaïs. The museum displays several thousand objects drawn from a much larger holding collected at hundreds of sites in southern Morbihan.

Highlights

• Collections spanning 450,000 years of prehistory, from the Paleolithic to the Roman era
• Large Alpine jade axes and callaïs ornaments from the Neolithic
• Insight into the daily life of the megalith builders
• Megalith Pass for combining several sites in the region

Permanent exhibition

• Collection permanente : préhistoire du Morbihan – Chronological route from the Paleolithic to the Roman period, with emphasis on the Neolithic, megaliths and callaïs ornaments.

Founded

1882

Operated by

Ville de Carnac

Visitors per year

approx. 36,688 (2019)

Admission & discounts

Ticket valid for one day. Free admission during the European Heritage Days. The Megalith Pass gives access to a reduced rate at participating sites. Payment by bank card, holiday vouchers or cash; American Express, bank checks and culture checks are not accepted. Workshops and guided tours cost extra.

Accessibility

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

Wheelchair available at reception, folding chairs at reception and seats in the rooms. The entrance and indoor and outdoor routes are accessible; staff are trained to welcome people with disabilities. Assistance dogs are admitted; other animals only in a carry bag.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

Activities every weekend and during school holidays: workshops for ages 6–9 and 9–12 (“Archéologues en herbe,” young archaeologists) and a “small steps” guided tour from age 3. Changing table in the women’s restroom.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in central Carnac, about 10 minutes from Plouharnel and La Trinité-sur-Mer, 15 minutes from Auray and 35 minutes from Vannes. In summer, Plouharnel-Carnac station is served by the Tire-Bouchon tourist train.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available

No café or cloakroom. Small outdoor area in front of the museum; bakeries and restaurants nearby. Meals are eaten outdoors. Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit