Museum
Musée Dobrée, Nantes
Nantes · Loire-Atlantique
Renovated and reopened in 2024, the Musée Dobrée spreads archaeology, the Middle Ages, decorative arts and curiosities across three buildings. Its iconic piece is the gold reliquary for the heart of Anne of Brittany.
- Suggested time
- 2 to 3 hours
- Type of place
- Departmental museum of archaeology, art and encyclopaedic collections
- Atmosphere
- Scholarly and spectacular, between neo-medieval architecture, archaeology and a collector’s cabinet
- Getting there
- 1 place Jean V, 44000 Nantes, in the Graslin district, near the Natural History Museum and the city centre. Tram and bus make the area easy to reach.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 9/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 9/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 1/10
- Reduced mobility
- 10/10
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 Musée Dobrée is one of the most unusual museums in Nantes. It takes its name from Thomas Dobrée, a collector born in 1810 into a family of shipowners, who devoted much of his life and fortune to gathering medieval works, coins, manuscripts, prints, art objects and curiosities. In 1861, Thomas Dobrée bought the Manoir de la Touche and decided to build next to it a vast neo-medieval house for his collections. In his will of 1894, he left the buildings and the works to the Département. The museum opened to the public at the end of the 19th century and merged with the large departmental archaeology collections. After a long closure that began in 2011, the fully renovated site reopened on 18 May 2024. The route now spreads across several buildings and combines the archaeology of Loire-Atlantique, the Middle Ages, decorative arts, coins, fine arts and objects from very diverse cultures. The most famous piece is the reliquary for the heart of Anne of Brittany. Made of gold and enamel when the duchess and queen died in 1514, it held her heart before being saved from melting down during the Revolution. Stolen during an exhibition in 2018 and found a few days later, it has regained a central place in the renovated museum. The art collections are particularly varied: medieval sculpture, ivories from the 13th to the 16th century, Limoges enamels, Flemish paintings, furniture, goldsmiths’ work, ceramics, 19th-century art and Art Nouveau and Art Deco glass. A Saint Christopher from the workshop of Hieronymus Bosch is among the iconic works. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Full price is €9 and reduced €6, with free entry for under-26s and several other categories. The first Sunday of the month is free, except in July, August and during temporary exhibitions.
What you will see
- The gold reliquary for the heart of Anne of Brittany.
- The neo-medieval house built by Thomas Dobrée for his collections.
- The Manoir de la Touche and the restored architectural ensemble.
- Archaeology collections covering a long history of Loire-Atlantique.
- A remarkable group of medieval ivories.
- Limoges enamels and goldsmiths’ work.
Show 4 more pointsHide
- A Saint Christopher from the workshop of Hieronymus Bosch.
- Coins, manuscripts and objects reflecting Thomas Dobrée’s encyclopaedic taste.
- A fully renovated museum, reopened in May 2024.
- A route spanning more than a thousand years of art and objects.
Practical information
- Address
- 1 place Jean V, 44000 Nantes
- Pets
- Guide and assistance dogs allowed according to the rules.
- Accessibility
- A renovated site with much improved accessibility; check the specific facilities for each disability.
Tips on the spot
- Open from 10 am to 6 pm; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- 2026 prices: €9 full price and €6 reduced.
- Entry is free for under-26s, jobseekers, people on minimum benefits and disabled people with their companion, with proof.
- The first Sunday of the month is free, except in July, August and some temporary exhibition periods.
- Last entry is 45 minutes before closing.
Show 6 more tipsHide
- Allow at least 2 hours; 3 hours is better if you love archaeology and decorative arts.
- Do not miss the reliquary for the heart of Anne of Brittany, but keep time for the medieval collections around it.
- In 2026, the reduced price applied to everyone during the last hour of opening.
- The Nantes Métropole Museum Pass is not accepted at the Musée Dobrée.
- The renovated building has much better accessibility; check the specific facilities if you have particular needs.
- The collections are very dense: choose a few sections if you are visiting with young children.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Musée Dobrée?
At 1 place Jean V in Nantes, near the Graslin district.
When did the museum reopen?
The renovated site reopened to the public on 18 May 2024 after a long closure.
Who was Thomas Dobrée?
A 19th-century Nantes collector who built a house for his works and left it to the Département.
What is the most famous piece?
The gold reliquary for the heart of Anne of Brittany, dated 1514.
Is Anne of Brittany’s heart still in the reliquary?
No. The reliquary is kept as a historic piece of goldsmiths’ work; the heart no longer survives inside.
How much does entry cost?
€9 full price and €6 reduced in 2026.
See also all the museums in Brittany.
Stay in Nantes
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.
Read in the journal
- SeasonWhat to do in Nantes during the All Saints’ holidaysThe Utopiales, the Machines de l’île, the Château des ducs, Trentemoult and the markets: our ideas for enjoying Nantes during the 2026 All Saints’ holidays.
- City guideWhat to do in Nantes: the complete guideThe Machines de l’île, the Château des ducs de Bretagne, the green line of Le Voyage à Nantes, Trentemoult, the Talensac market and the vineyards: what to do in and around Nantes.
- Winter holidaysWhat to do in Nantes during the February holidaysThe Château des ducs, the Machines de l’île, museums, the Jardin des Plantes and spring tides in La Baule or Pornic: our ideas for the February 2027 holidays in Nantes.
Traveller reviews
Nobody has reviewed this place yet.
Photograph: Fab5669 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons