Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The museum of Brittany has its origins in the revolutionary confiscations of 1794, notably those of Christophe-Paul de Robien (1698-1756), President of the Parliament of Brittany. These collections, rich in works of art, archaeology, numismatics and ethnographic objects, became municipal property in 1805, marking the official birth of the "Museum of Rennes". In the 19th century, collections moved several times before settling in 1856 in the university palace, a neo-classical building on the banks of Vilaine.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the museum turned to Breton ethnography, with the opening in 1913 of two rooms dedicated to Upper and Lower Britain. After the Second World War, under the impetus of Georges Henri Rivière, the museum develops a chronological journey on Breton history. In 1975, he separated from the Museum of Fine Arts and became autonomous. In 1987, it was decided to transfer it to a new building, the Champs Libres, where it moved in 2006, under the direction of the architect Christian de Portzamparc.

The museum of Brittany, labeled "Tourism and Handicap" since 2007, offers various collections: archaeology, ethnography, numismatics, iconography and specialized collections such as that on the Dreyfus Affair. It has an active digitisation and sharing policy, with over 370,000 items available online in 2024. His temporary exhibitions, often multidisciplinary and trilingual (French, English, Breton), address various themes, from the mooring fishery to the Celtic identity, while at the same time sparking debates, as for the exhibition "Celtic?" in 2022.

The museum is also recognized for its commitment to accessibility and open content, as evidenced by its awards, including the "Heritage for All" in 2018 and the Free Culture Label in 2023. He collaborates with other institutions, such as the travelling exhibition "Newfoundland/Neuvas" (2013-2014), award-winning national interest, which mobilized museums in Brittany and Normandy. Its eco-museum of Bintinais, integrated since 1987, completes its offer by highlighting the rural heritage of Brittany.

The museum's collections, enriched by donations, excavations and acquisitions, cover areas as varied as Breton archaeology (from prehistory to modern times), numismatics (with 35,000 coins), ethnography (costumes, tools, furniture) and iconography (400,000 photographs). Specific funds, such as the Dreyfus Affair and Paul Gruyer's photographs, offer unique insights into regional history. The museum continues to evolve, with recent projects for the rehabilitation, digitisation and renewal of exhibitions, such as that undertaken since 2022 for the permanent exhibition "Une histoire de Bretagne".

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