Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes

Over het museum

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes was founded in 1794 from works seized from the city’s religious and civic buildings. Its core comes from the cabinet of curiosities of Christophe-Paul de Robien (1698–1756), president of the Parlement of Brittany. Between 1801 and 1811, state deposits added large works from Parisian seizures and military conquests.

In 1855 the museum moved into a new building on the Quai Émile-Zola, which also houses the university. After war damage it was renovated in 1957, and it has pursued an active acquisitions policy ever since.

The Quai Zola site presents the history of art from Antiquity to the present in three sections: a cabinet of curiosities, Old Masters, and modern and contemporary art. The cabinet brings together paintings, sculpture, Egyptian, Greek and Celtic antiquities, objects from several continents and an important collection of drawings. The contemporary section covers lyrical abstraction, the geometric abstraction of the Mesure group, constructed art and figurative painting.

A second venue, the Musée Maurepas, opened in February 2025 in a neighbourhood of the city; it hosts two temporary exhibitions a year.

Hoogtepunten

• “Persée délivrant Andromède” by Veronese
• “La Chasse au tigre” by Rubens
• “Les Périssoires” by Caillebotte
• “L’Arbre jaune” by Paul Sérusier and works of the Pont-Aven School
• “Bleus mouvants” by Kupka, and works by Picasso, Nicolas de Staël and Joan Mitchell

Vaste collectie

• Collections permanentes du quai Zola – A route in three sections: cabinet of curiosities, Old Masters, and modern and contemporary art, with major names from the 17th century to abstraction.

Opgericht

1794

Bezoekers per jaar

ca. 91.594

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Free access to the permanent collections. Entry to temporary exhibitions is free for holders of the Sortir ! card, recipients of minimum social benefits, members of the Société des amis du musée and of ICOM, and certain teachers. The Musée Maurepas is free for everyone.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Both sites are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility; a wheelchair can be lent at reception. Portable induction loops are lent at Quai Zola, and the ticket desk is equipped with them. Tactile booklets with Braille and large print, easy-read booklets, sign-language tours. A sensory bag and a sensory map are available (Quai Zola).

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour

Workshops of 1 hr to 1 hr 30 min combining a visit with a creative activity. On the first Wednesday of the month at 14:30, an activity for children from age 7; visits for 2- to 4-year-olds on some weekends; every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00, a visit for children from age 5 with their parents; daily activities at 11:00 during school holidays. Kit for toddlers (Quai Zola, bookable), Muséojeux bags at reception, family guide to download. Step stools for the toilets and child seat reducers.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum recommends public transport or soft mobility; if you are coming from outside Rennes, use the park-and-ride car parks. STAR bike station on Avenue Janvier and bike racks in front of the museum.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe
• Kluisjes

Shop with books, catalogues, postcards and works by local artists. Cloakrooms for coats, backpacks and cabin bags at both sites.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Je bezoek plannen