Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Maison de la Grande Vigne, also known as the Musée Yvonne Jean-Haffen, is an old wine estate mentioned in the 11th century as belonging to the monks of the Priory of Magdeleine-du-Pont. In 1830, Louis Bonnier built a house surrounded by a vegetable garden, replacing the vineyards with terraces and paths. In the 19th century, it became a school for girls, and its garden was transformed into an intimate English-style space by Miss Mac Callum, evoking the Paradou for Mathurin Méheut.

In 1937 Yvonne Jean-Haffen and her husband bought the property, then abandoned. They restored the house by preserving its Louis-Philippe decor and added a window for the workshop on the first floor. Yvonne Jean-Haffen painted a mural depicting the fields and the sea, typical of the region. The place becomes a haven of creation and reception for artists, including Mathurin Méheut, his mentor. In 1987, she bequeathed the house, its furniture and its studio (more than 4,000 works) to the city of Dinan.

Open to the public in 1994, the museum exhibits its collections in rotation and in 2019 obtains the label Maison des Illustres. The site combines 19th-century architecture, an old lime oven, and a landscaped park with views of Dinan. The temporary exhibitions highlight the work of Yvonne Jean-Haffen, his collaborations with Mathurin Méheut, and his attachment to Brittany.

The museum also maintains a library, 1,400 letters illustrated by Méheut, and personal items. Since 1990, an artist's workshop in the outbuildings welcomes residents, perpetuating the creative vocation of the place. Classified as a Historic Monument in 2019, the property includes the house, its interior decorations, outbuildings, the lime oven, and the park with its architectural facilities.

The annual exhibitions explore various themes, from Breton nature to Yvonne Jean-Haffen's travels, including artistic techniques. The garden, a source of major inspiration for the artist, remains a central element of the visit, with its roses, hedges and views of the Rance. Today the museum is a place of memory dedicated to a major figure of the Breton art of the twentieth century.

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