Maison d'Ernest Renan

About the museum

The house of Ernest Renan is a 17th-century half-timbered house that belonged to a shipowner, in the heart of Tréguier. The writer's grandparents bought it in 1780. Ernest Renan (1823–1892) was born there and lived there until the age of fifteen. After his father was lost at sea in 1828, the family divided the house into flats to pay off its debts, and a baker occupied part of it until 1903.

In 1947, Renan's granddaughters donated the house. The museum was inaugurated on July 20, 1947 by President Édouard Herriot. The street façade was restored in 1992 for the centenary of the writer's death. The State, owner of the site, entrusted its management to the Centre des monuments nationaux in 2007. The garden was redesigned in 2010, and in 2011 the house received the “Maison des Illustres” label from the Ministry of Culture.

The visit begins in the former grocery shop run by Renan's mother, which now serves as reception. Upstairs, rooms gather objects, photographs and paintings related to the family, and one room recreates Renan's office at the Collège de France. A spiral staircase leads to his study under the roof, which once served as a lookout over the port. The stone courtyard and the enclosed garden, with its fig tree and box hedges, complete the route.

Highlights

• Ernest Renan's birthplace, a half-timbered shipowner's house
• Recreation of Renan's office at the Collège de France
• Study under the roof, former lookout post over the port
• Enclosed garden with fig tree and box hedges
• “Maison des Illustres” label since 2011

Permanent exhibition

• La maison natale d'Ernest Renan – A route through the writer's family home: former grocery shop, rooms devoted to his family and memories, a reconstructed office and a study under the roof.

Founded

1947

Operated by

Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of January, February, March and November

The ticket gives access to the house and garden. Admission is also free for job seekers (proof dated less than 6 months ago) and holders of the Pass éducation. The Passion monuments subscription gives unlimited access to the house and to more than 80 monuments in France. Payment by cash, bank card, check, chèque Culture and ANCV chèque-vacances.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• 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 monument and garden are not wheelchair accessible. Aids to help understand the visit are available at reception. A public accessibility register is published on the website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Self-guided visit with visitor booklet, guided tour, and holiday activities (storytelling evenings, concerts or theatrical tours depending on the programme). Free admission for under-18s. Strollers are admitted in the garden but not in the house.

Getting there & parking

By car: A11, then N12 towards Paimpol, then D7/D786 to Tréguier. The nearest station is Lannion. By bicycle: about 14.7 km from Paimpol or Pontrieux and 19 km from Lannion.

Amenities & dining

Books and heritage products are sold in the online shop of the national monuments network. Smoking is prohibited throughout the site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit