Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Écomusée de Saint-Dégan in Brech was born from the restoration of traditional cottages, enriched by donations and purchases made by a team of volunteers. These buildings, characteristic of rural architecture from the 17th to the 19th century, testify to the evolution of peasant lifestyles in the Auray Country. The ecomuseum highlights everyday gestures, beliefs and ancestral know-how, now missing or forgotten, through exhibitions and educational animations.

The site revolves around reconstituted cottages, a conservatory orchard with 200 varieties of apple trees and other fruit trees, and an interpretive trail. This tour allows us to discover how peasants have shaped landscapes, hollow paths and fields, while adapting their agricultural practices to the challenges of modernity. Workshops, such as the traditional bread making every Wednesday, immerse visitors in local traditions, thus perpetuating a living heritage.

The ecomuseum also plays a role in the conservation and transmission of local ecosystems. Undergrowth walks and explanations of the utility of hedges, slope or hollow trees reveal the interdependence between man and his environment. Through these initiatives, the museum preserves not only an architectural heritage, but also a collective memory, rooted in popular wisdom and regional myths.

Labelled Museum of France, the Écomusée de Saint-Dégan is part of an effort to enhance ethnological and historical heritage. Its official address, 7 Rue Park Segal in Brech (Morbihan), makes it a central place to understand Breton rural history, while offering an immersive experience to visitors, whether local or tourist.

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