Musée 39-45, Dinan-Léhon

Who this place suits

With family

8/10

As a couple

8/10

With friends

9/10

Solo

9/10

With a dog

1/10

Reduced mobility

5/10

These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.

About

In Léhon, now part of Dinan, the Musée 39-45 is a private museum devoted to the Second World War. Set at 16 rue du Pont de la Haye, less than a kilometre from the historic centre of Dinan, it was born of the Pasturel family’s passion for objects and testimonies from the conflict. The collection was built up gradually through purchases, research and, above all, many donations. What makes the place special is the size of its collection. More than 20,000 objects, mostly from Brittany, are on display, from small everyday items to vehicles and artillery pieces. Uniforms, helmets, deactivated weapons or weapons shown in their historical context, documents, posters, equipment, personal belongings and military hardware help you approach the conflict on a human scale. The route relies mainly on large reconstructions. Over about 1,000 m², around fifty mannequins in period dress bring different moments of the war to life: an American camp, administration under the Occupation, German equipment, a horse-drawn convoy and scenes of military life. This very visual display shows what the objects were used for, rather than simply looking at them in cases. The most spectacular piece is a life-size reconstruction of a blockhouse. It includes a barrack room, a radio room and a firing chamber with a complete 47 mm Skoda gun. The museum presents it as one of the few complete examples still preserved. Together, they give a concrete picture of the inside of a Second World War fortification. Brittany during the war takes an important place. The route covers the Occupation, the Resistance, parachute drops, items linked to the SAS, the Liberation and the different armies present in the region. One part also deals with deportation and the concentration camps through documents, photographs, uniforms and testimonies. These areas are harder and call for support with young children. The collection keeps growing. New objects are regularly added to the route, which is why the figures can vary over the years. Among the more unusual pieces is a British aircraft engine whose research made it possible to trace the pilot’s identity and the aircraft’s story. The Musée 39-45 is as much a collection of equipment as a place that preserves individual stories from the conflict.

What you will see

• More than 20,000 Second World War objects, mostly found or collected in Brittany.
• About 1,000 m² of collections and large reconstructed scenes.
• A life-size reconstructed blockhouse with a barrack room, a radio room and a firing chamber.
• A complete 47 mm Skoda gun installed in the blockhouse reconstruction.
• Around fifty mannequins in period uniforms staged in the different areas.
• Original vehicles, artillery pieces and military equipment.

Practical information

Address

16 rue du Pont de la Haye, Léhon, 22100 Dinan

Public transport

Dinan station about 2 km away. The museum is about 800 m from the town centre.

Parking

Parking available near the museum.

Pets

Pet dogs not allowed in the museum.

Accessibility

Partial accessibility. The ground floor is accessible to people with reduced mobility, but not the whole museum.

Best time

During the school holidays, for the set opening hours without booking. Outside the holidays, call before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Stay in Léhon

Places to stay that are still available, with current prices, compared across the main booking platforms.

Partner link: a booking made from this map may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.