Musée du pays de Retz

About the museum

The Musée du Pays de Retz is located in Bourgneuf-en-Retz, in the heart of the former salt town of the Bay of Brittany. It occupies a former outbuilding of the Cordeliers convent, founded in the early 14th century on the initiative of Girard de Machecoul and Aliénor de Thouars. The current building dates from the 18th century, and its stone porch bears the date 1773. The last friars left in 1790; the convent was sold as national property and later acquired by the town of Bourgneuf. In 1851, the building became a nursery school for boys.

The museum was founded in 1966 on the initiative of Jean Mounès, a history and geography teacher with a passion for archaeology and folk traditions. It is run by the association Les Amis du Pays de Retz and holds the “Musée de France” label. In 2026, it celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Across about 1,300 m², the collections present the heritage, arts and traditions of this part of historic Brittany: mineralogy and geology, archaeology, history, trades and ways of life in the past, costumes and headdresses, and spaces devoted to earth, sea and salt. A playful trail with games and dress-up also lets families discover the place in a different way.

Highlights

• Collections on the geology, archaeology and history of the Pays de Retz
• Traditional costumes and headdresses
• Spaces devoted to earth, sea and salt
• Playful trail: treasure hunt, scavenger hunt, aluette game, goose game
• Former outbuilding of the Cordeliers convent

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes – Mineralogy and geology, archaeology, history, trades and ways of life in the past, costumes and headdresses, earth, sea and salt.

Founded

1966

Operated by

Association Les Amis du Pays de Retz

Visitors per year

approx. 7,169

Admission & discounts

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: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum’s interior is accessible by a ramp; seats and benches are placed throughout the rooms. All exhibits have written explanations.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

A playful trail is available on request at the reception desk: treasure hunt, scavenger hunt, aluette game, goose game. Children can dress up as Vikings and try replicas of historical helmets and hats. In summer, animations are included in the visit (trades and games of the past, Wednesday games, evening events on astronomy).

Getting there & parking

The museum is 15 km from Pornic and Machecoul-Saint-Même.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with items related to the region (aluette game, Pays de Retz flags …).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit