Musée Laënnec

About the museum

The museum is part of the university health sciences library of Nantes University. It holds the Laënnec collection, a set of scientific manuscripts, printed works, correspondence and objects relating to René-Théophile Laënnec (1781–1826), physician and inventor of the stethoscope.

The manuscripts were first bequeathed to his cousin Mériadec Laënnec and remained in the family until 1911. That year, the last owner, Robert Laënnec, gave them to the École de médecine in Nantes, which became the Faculty of Medicine in 1956. They include notes and observations made at patients’ bedsides, medical papers, lecture notes and letters exchanged with foreign scholars.

The collection also contains the manuscripts of Guillaume Laënnec, René’s uncle and director of the École de médecine in Nantes from 1808 to 1816, as well as all the French editions of the Traité d’auscultation médiate and a copy of René Laënnec’s thesis. The museum also holds several stethoscopes, including the first model from 1819, and other personal belongings of Laënnec. It can be visited by appointment only.

Highlights

• First stethoscope model, dated 1819
• Observation manuscripts and lecture notes by René Laënnec
• All French editions of the Traité d’auscultation médiate
• Personal belongings of Laënnec
• Manuscripts of his uncle Guillaume Laënnec, director of the École de médecine in Nantes

Permanent exhibition

• Fonds et musée Laënnec – Scientific manuscripts, printed works, correspondence and objects of René Laënnec, including several stethoscopes and the first model from 1819.

Operated by

Nantes Université – Bibliothèque universitaire de santé

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• 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 university health sciences library is on the fifth floor, served by an elevator from the entrance hall at 9 rue Bias.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The entrance is at 9 rue Bias. Cross the large entrance hall and take the elevator at the back on the left up to the fifth floor.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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Plan your visit