Museum
Vannes Museum of Fine Arts, La Cohue
Vannes · Morbihan
Facing Vannes cathedral, La Cohue mixes medieval architecture and 19th and 20th-century art: Delacroix, painters of Brittany and the Geneviève Asse donation. It closes for works from 1 November 2026.
- Suggested time
- 1 hour to 1 hour 30
- Type of place
- Fine arts museum in the former medieval covered market of La Cohue
- Atmosphere
- Artistic and historic, between the volumes of the old market hall, Delacroix and Geneviève Asse’s blues
- Getting there
- 15 place Saint-Pierre, 56000 Vannes, facing the cathedral in the heart of the walled town. Easy to reach on foot from the ramparts, the port and the pedestrian streets.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 8/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 1/10
- Reduced mobility
- 6/10
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 Vannes Museum of Fine Arts occupies La Cohue, the former covered market of the historic centre, facing the cathedral of Saint-Pierre. The building, whose name recalls the crowds and bustle of the markets, is already part of the visit: beneath its medieval volumes, contemporary exhibitions converse with a place used for centuries for trade and town life. The museum was founded in 1886. Its iconic work is Eugène Delacroix’s Christ on the Cross, bought by the State in 1835 and entrusted to the museum when it was created. A sketch of the thief from the painter’s studio, bought by the town in 2017, now completes the Delacroix group. The 19th and 20th-century collections give Brittany an important place. Charles Cottet, Flavien Peslin, Henri Moret, Jeanne-Marie Barbey and Jean Frélaut offer very different visions of the landscapes, people and coasts, between ethnographic observation, modernity and artistic research. The first floor is especially linked to Geneviève Asse, born in Vannes in 1923. The artist’s large donation lets you follow her luminous abstraction, her horizons and the famous blue that marks much of her work. This gives the museum a very different identity from a simple municipal collection of old paintings. In 2026, the museum also presented Les dessous des musées, saison 2, an exhibition showing the usually unseen work around collections and building projects. It is part of a wider period of change for the museums of Vannes. In 2026, La Cohue was open Tuesday to Sunday from 1.30 pm to 6 pm, with tickets at €5 full price and €3 reduced, free for under-26s. The museum closes for works from 1 November 2026.
What you will see
- The former medieval market hall of La Cohue as the museum’s setting.
- Eugène Delacroix’s Christ on the Cross, an iconic work since 1886.
- A sketch from Delacroix’s studio, bought by the town in 2017.
- Painters of Brittany such as Charles Cottet, Henri Moret and Jean Frélaut.
- The large Geneviève Asse donation.
- Geneviève Asse’s blue and abstract landscapes on the first floor.
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- Contemporary exhibitions in the central passage.
- A museum in the heart of Vannes, facing the cathedral.
- The 2026 exhibition Les dessous des musées, saison 2.
- Closing for works from 1 November 2026.
Practical information
- Address
- 15 place Saint-Pierre, 56000 Vannes
- Pets
- Guide and assistance dogs according to the rules.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair access to the ground-floor exhibition areas; induction loop at reception. The first floor is less accessible.
Tips on the spot
- The museum closes for works from 1 November 2026: check the reopening calendar before planning a visit.
- In 2026, prices were €5 full price, €3 reduced and free for under-26s.
- The ground-floor areas are accessible to people with reduced mobility, but not the whole historic route.
- An induction loop is available at reception for hard-of-hearing visitors.
- Allow about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 for the visit.
Show 2 more tipsHide
- Start with Delacroix, then go up to Geneviève Asse to understand the museum’s two great signatures.
- Make the most of the location to carry on to the cathedral, the ramparts and the port of Vannes.
Frequently asked questions
Where is La Cohue?
Facing the cathedral of Saint-Pierre, at 15 place Saint-Pierre in the historic centre of Vannes.
Is the museum open?
It closes for works from 1 November 2026; check the reopening date before you go.
Why is the museum called La Cohue?
It occupies the town’s former market hall, a place of trade and gathering whose name evokes the crowd.
What is the most famous work?
Eugène Delacroix’s Christ on the Cross, in the collections since the museum was founded.
Who is Geneviève Asse?
An artist born in Vannes in 1923, a major figure of French abstraction, who made a large donation to the museum.
Does the museum show Breton painting?
Yes, including Charles Cottet, Henri Moret, Flavien Peslin, Jeanne-Marie Barbey and Jean Frélaut.
See also all the museums in Morbihan.
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Read in the journal
- RainWhat to do in Vannes when it rainsThe fine arts museum at La Cohue, the cathedral, the Halles des Lices, shows at the Palais des Arts and Lorient an hour away: our ideas for a rainy day in Vannes.
- ChristmasWhat to do in Vannes during the Christmas holidaysChristmas in the old town from 7 to 31 December, illuminated ramparts, the Gulf in winter and the Château de Suscinio: our ideas for the 2026 Christmas holidays in Vannes.
- SeasonWhat to do in Vannes during the All Saints’ holidaysThe Vive la Magie festival, the funfair, Halloween at Branféré, Suscinio, the Gulf and Carnac open to walkers: our ideas for All Saints’ 2026 in Vannes.
Traveller reviews
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