Nantes Art Museum (Musée d'Arts de Nantes)
10 Rue Georges Clemenceau, Nantes, Pays de la Loire
Nantes’ flagship art museum whisks art lovers on a journey through nine centuries of art, from 13th-century Old Masters to modern and 21st-century contemporary art. It’s a thrilling ride, with more than 12,000 works on display and plenty of big-name artists in the mix, including Picasso, Monet, Delacroix, Kapoor, and Soulages.
Allow a few hours to explore the museum and enjoy works by Kandinsky, Tissot, Courbet, Rubens, and other artists. Look for works such as Rubens’ The Triumph of Judas Maccabeus, Delaunay’s David Triumphant, and Chagall’s Le Cheval Rouge, along with temporary exhibitions. Many sightseeing and walking tours include a visit to the Nantes Art Museum, allowing the opportunity to take in the highlights with an English-speaking guide.
Architecture enthusiasts will want to visit the museum—it’s housed in a 19th-century Palais, complemented by a contemporary cube, a recent renovation.
Guided tours are available in French, and a free app with audio guides in multiple languages, including English, is available.
There’s a restaurant, gift shop, and restrooms at the museum.
The museum charges an admission fee, but reduced rates are available for holders of a Nantes Pass.
The museum has ramp and elevator access for wheelchairs, and Braille maps and magnetic loops are available. Entrance is free for visitors with disabilities.
The museum is in central Nantes, between the Château des Ducs de Bretagne and the Jardin des Plantes. The museum is about a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, and the closest tram stop is Duchesse-Anne (Ligne 1), about an 8-minute walk.
Nantes Art Museum is open daily (except Tuesday) from late morning through evening and later on Thursday evenings. Guided tours take place at lunchtime and in the evening on Thursday and on Sunday. Weekends can get busy, but it rarely gets overcrowded. Visit on a weekday morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds. Entrance is free on the first Sunday of every month (except in July and August) and on Thursday evenings from 7-9 p.m.
Nantes’ top five museums can all be visited by purchasing a single Museum Pass. After the Art Museum, dive into the fascinating history of Nantes, the one-time capital of Brittany, at the Nantes History Museum in the castle, then marvel at the wonders of the natural world at the Nantes Natural History Museum. There’s also the unique archeological museum, The Chronograph, and the Jules Verne Museum, devoted to the city’s most famous writer (and the inspiration for the Machines de l’Ile).
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