Museum of Prehistory, Carnac

Who this place suits

With family

9/10

As a couple

9/10

With friends

8/10

Solo

10/10

With a dog

1/10

Reduced mobility

7/10

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 Museum of Prehistory in Carnac is the visit that gives meaning to the stone rows and the great megalithic monuments of the Morbihan. Its collections cover about 450,000 years of human history, from the Palaeolithic to the Gallo-Roman period, with an exceptional focus on the Neolithic and megalith building. About 3,000 objects are on display. Stone tools, polished axes, pottery, jewellery, weapons and grave goods come from Carnac and many sites across the Morbihan. Maps, plans and models place these pieces back in the dolmens, burial mounds, stone rows and settlements where they were found. The museum is particularly famous for its large axes in Alpine rock and its jewellery in precious or distant materials. Some raw materials travelled several hundred kilometres, from the Alps or the Iberian peninsula. They show that the societies that raised the megaliths were not isolated but part of vast trade networks. The route spreads over two levels and follows both a chronological and a thematic logic. It explains stone knapping and polishing, farming, burial practices, trade, the building of the monuments and how societies changed over several millennia. The museum is often presented as a world reference for megaliths. It is therefore well worth visiting before the Carnac stones or the Saint-Michel burial mound: the stones in the landscape become much easier to understand once you have seen the objects, plans and archaeological reconstructions. In 2026, full price is €7, and €3 for ages 6 to 17 and students. The museum follows a seasonal calendar and closes for part of the winter, so check the opening hours before your visit.

What you will see

• One of the largest European collections devoted to prehistory.
• An international reference for megaliths.
• About 3,000 objects on display.
• A story covering about 450,000 years of human history.
• Polished axes in Alpine rock that reveal very long-distance trade.
• Jewellery and grave goods found in the great Neolithic monuments.

Practical information

Address

Place Christian Bonnet, 56340 Carnac

Pets

Ask the museum about its pet policy.

Accessibility

Check the areas and facilities available at the time of your visit.

Frequently asked questions

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