Museum
Saint-Brieuc Museum of Art and History
Saint-Brieuc · Côtes-d’Armor
A free museum devoted to the Côtes-d’Armor: deep-sea fishing, underwater archaeology, rural life, linen, photography and how clichés about Brittany were built.
- Suggested time
- 1 h 30 to 2 hours to see the three floors and the temporary exhibition
- Type of place
- Museum of society, history, ethnography and art
- Atmosphere
- Educational and local, between maritime memory, rural life, photography and a critical look at Breton clichés
- Getting there
- 2 rue des Lycéens Martyrs, Cour Francis Renaud, in central Saint-Brieuc. The station is within walking distance, with several town centre car parks nearby.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 9/10
- As a couple
- 8/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 9/10
- With a dog
- 1/10
- Reduced mobility
- 9/10
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
The Saint-Brieuc Museum of Art and History tells the story of the Côtes-d’Armor through social history, trades, landscapes, the arts and representations of Brittany. With the Musée de France label, it does not try to present a frozen Brittany: its route questions how a region and its people change and how they are portrayed. The ground floor is devoted to the maritime world. You discover underwater archaeology, navigation and above all the great cod fishing campaigns to Newfoundland and Iceland. Equipment, sailors’ belongings and testimonies show what life was like for those who left for many months. On the first floor, the museum leaves the sea for the countryside. It covers the Breton heathlands, changing landscapes, farming and the whole linen chain, from growing the plant to spinning, weaving and making cloth. The second floor is devoted to Breton clichés. Paintings, drawings, photographs, tourist guides, adverts and contemporary works show how the image of Brittany was built over time. Photography has a special place, notably the collection of Saint-Brieuc photographer Lucien Bailly, born in 1881 and died in 1975. His portraits and scenes of daily life are a valuable record of Saint-Brieuc and its people. In 2026, the exhibition Dans nos filets extends the maritime route by looking at how seafarers have been portrayed since the late 19th century. Entry is free.
What you will see
- A completely free municipal museum.
- The maritime world and deep-sea fishing off Newfoundland and Iceland.
- Collections on underwater archaeology.
- Rural life and the changing Breton landscapes.
- The story of linen, from field to loom.
- A whole floor on clichés about Brittany.
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- The Lucien Bailly photography collection.
- Paintings, photographs and objects between art, ethnography and social history.
- The 2026 exhibition Dans nos filets.
- Family activities and guided sessions.
Practical information
- Address
- 2 rue des Lycéens Martyrs, 22000 Saint-Brieuc
- Accessibility
- Welcome for people with reduced mobility, ramps and lifts.
Tips on the spot
- In autumn 2026, the museum is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.
- Entry is free.
- The exhibition Dans nos filets runs until 31 October 2026.
- Start on the ground floor with the maritime world, then go up in order.
- With children, the deep-sea fishing section is often the most concrete.
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- Do not miss the floor on Breton clichés.
- The Lucien Bailly collection deserves a proper stop if you like photography.
- Tours and family activities are offered depending on the programme.
- The museum has facilities for people with reduced mobility.
- Allow about 1 h 30, longer with the temporary exhibition.
Frequently asked questions
Is the museum free?
Yes, entry is free.
What is on the ground floor?
The maritime world, navigation, underwater archaeology and deep-sea fishing.
What is on the first floor?
Rural life, heathlands, farming, linen and weaving.
What is on the second floor?
How clichés about Brittany were built.
Who was Lucien Bailly?
A Saint-Brieuc photographer whose collection documents the town and its people.
Which exhibition is on in 2026?
Dans nos filets, until 31 October 2026.
See also all the museums in Côtes-d’Armor.
Stay in Saint-Brieuc
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Read in the journal
- City guideWhat to do in Saint-Brieuc: the complete guideThe fortified cathedral, the old town, the port of Le Légué, the Pointe du Roselier, the bay and its nature reserve, Binic and Art Rock: what to do in and around Saint-Brieuc.
- Winter holidaysWhat to do in Saint-Brieuc during the February holidaysScallops, the winter birds of the bay, the Pointe du Roselier, the museum and the spring tides: our ideas for the February 2027 holidays in Saint-Brieuc.
- RainWhat to do in Saint-Brieuc when it rainsThe Musée d’art et d’histoire, the Brieuc biscuit factory, La Passerelle and the Musée de la Briqueterie: our ideas for a rainy day in Saint-Brieuc and around the bay.
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Photograph: Pymouss · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons