We invite you to visit the Arts Museum of Nantes. It's certainly one of the finest fine arts museums in the world. Both for the richness of its collections and for the building's grandiose decor.
In just one place, you can explore 9 centuries of art history, with a diversity and depth of collections that we found truly exceptional.
Installed in the current premises since 1893, the museum has just been enlarged and refurbished from top to bottom (6 years of work!), offering the best exhibition conditions.
Discover in this article our useful tips and photos to best prepare your visit and spend an unforgettable moment in this exceptional place!
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit the Nantes Fine Arts Museum?
Is the Art Museum worth it? Our opinion:
In a word: yes! The Musée d'Arts de Nantes is a real nugget well worth a visit. Whether you're an art lover or simply curious, you're bound to find something to suit your taste in our rich and varied collections.
We loved admiring the works of world-renowned m asters.
What's more, the experience is not limited to contemplating the works.
We fell under the spell of the building in which the museum is nestled. It's a historic monument of remarkable beauty.
The Café du Musée, orchestrated by Michelin-starred chef Eric Guérin, promises a gourmet break that will perfectly complement your visit.
In our opinion, it's one of the best activities in town!
Why is the Musée d'Arts de Nantes famous?
It's one of the city's most beautiful museums! Here are just a few of the reasons why it's recognized as an exceptional place to visit:
- Exceptional collection: the museum boasts over 13,000 works dating from the 13th century to the present day. We discovered works by internationally renowned artists such as Watteau, La Tour, Delacroix, Ingres, Monet, Courbet and Soulages.
- Its wealth of modern and contemporary art: this collection represents more than half of the total works. You'll discover the work of major artists such as Kandinsky, Gorin, Delaunay and Polke.
- An original itinerary: the museum invites us to be surprised by a dialogue between eras. A confrontation of ancient artworks, illuminated by those of the 21st century.
- Architecture: the museum is housed in an imposing Beaux-Arts-style building built in 1900. You'll see that the building itself is a work of art.
To visit this museum and over 50 other must-see places in Nantes, we recommend the Nantes City Card Pass . You'll benefit from low rates and the best of the city.
Our favorite moments
We loved our visit here, and here are our favorites:
- Take the grand staircase and discover the "Bretagne Laborieuse" fresco: during our visit, we discovered a magnificent monumental double-flight staircase, adorned with a giant fresco by artist Hippolyte Berteaux.
- Admire the Dream of Saint Joseph - Georges de La Tour: we loved the ambience of this room, where darkness only makes the paintings more luminous. In this 1642 work, an old man (Joseph) sees an angel symbolized by a child figure.
- Discover the Kandinsky collection: in the section devoted to modern art, you can see a rare collection of works by Russian painter Vasily Kandinsky. A real dive in this pioneer of abstract art.
WHERE TO STAY IN Nantes
Downtown
Would you like to sleep in the heart of Nantes and enjoy its invigorating vitality? We liked it:
- Blu Radisson Hotel - see our article - see photos prices and availability
- L'Oceania - hotel de France - see our article - see photos prices and availability
Near the station
A train to catch at dawn, there's a truly magical address just 2 steps from Nantes train station:
- Le Sozo Hotel - see our article - see photos, prices and availability
On the banks of the Erdre
Looking for a bit of peace and quiet, without straying too far from the city of Nantes? 2 addresses on the banks of the Erdre river:
- La Rivière House - see photos, prices and availability
- Le Best Western Plus Hôtel de la Régate - view photos, prices and availability
History in brief
- We learned that the museum was founded in 1801 by decree of Napoleon. It was initially developed through deposits from the Musée du Louvre and state purchases. Then came the purchase of François Cacault's collection of over 1,000 paintings and sculptures!
- A new building was constructed between 1893 and 1900 to house the growing collections.
- In the 20th century, the museum's collections were enriched by works of modern and contemporary art, which we thoroughly enjoyed. It is also open to international art, with temporary exhibitions and acquisitions of works by artists from all over the world.
- We also discovered that in 2017, the museum closed its doors for a complete and ambitious renovation. It reopened in 2023, offering a modern scenography and an educational trail that we loved! Today, its collection boasts over 12,000 works, covering a broad period from the 13th to the 21st century.
How to get there: Musée d'Arts, Nantes
Where is the Fine Arts Museum?
The museum entrance is located at 10, rue Georges Clemenceau, 44000 Nantes.
- In the heart of downtown
- Near Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Cathedral
- Close to the Jardin des Plantes
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
- Think aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
How to get there?
Access to the museum is easy. Located in the heart of Nantes, you won't need to walk far.
- By train: from Nantes SNCF station, 6min walk.
- By bus: lines C1, C6, 11, 12 and Busway 4. Stop "Foch-Cathédrale" then 5min walk. Click here for route maps, timetables and fares.
- By streetcar: Line 1, "Duchesse-Anne" stop, then 8-minute walk. Line 2,"StMihiel" stop, then 10min walk.
- By bike: with the city's "Bicloo" bike-sharing network, stations n°32 "Foch" or n°63 "Jardin des plantes".
If you bring your own bike, parking spaces are available nearby (rue Delaunay and rue Clemenceau). - By car: to reach the parking lot nearest the museum, you'll need to drive through the city center. There are many traffic lights and traffic can be heavy at rush hour.
Parking
The museum has no on-site parking.
The nearest one is an 8-minute walk away. It's the"Onepark - Cathédrale De Nantes". It is located on rue Sully.
Click here to find a parking space in Nantes.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Nantes
Itineraries
Visits
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating...
Best time to visit
To take full advantage of the museum and its various collections, we recommend arriving in the morning when it opens. Otherwise, between noon and 2pm the museum is generally quieter. We also recommend visiting outside the summer months (July and August) and school vacations. This way, you can avoid the crowds.
We think this is a must-see for your visit to Nantes or the Loire region in general.
Length of visit and main difficulties
We recommend that you allow between 1 and 2 hours to visit the Musée d'Arts de Nantes. This will give you plenty of time to admire all the works. You can also marvel at the building's remarkable architecture.
The tour has several levels. To get there, take the stairs.
The site is equipped for people with reduced mobility:
- an exterior elevator is located on the forecourt, rue Georges Clemenceau
- seats are distributed throughout the different areas of the museum
- manual wheelchairs and seat canes can be borrowed from reception
- you can use the elevators to access the various exhibition areas
We found the Museum's arrangements for welcoming all audiences, whatever their age or life situation, remarkable.
- For hearing-impaired visitors, magnetic loops are available at reception and ticket terminals, in educational workshops and in the auditorium.
- Hearing-impaired visitors can enjoy guided tours in LSF (Langue des Signes Française).
- For the visually impaired, the museum offers audiodescription tours all year round on request. Tactile maps in relief and Braille are also available at reception.
- People with intellectual disabilities can take advantage of adapted, multisensory tours of the permanent collection.
- Last but not least, the museum offers tours adapted to the needs of visitors with mental disabilities, all year round, on request.
Find out more here.
Advice on how to visit
We found the tour very well organized. It's easy to find your way around and follow the arrows indicating the direction of travel. Let yourself be carried away by the works of art and the emotions they evoke.
Here are the different areas of the museum:
- The Cube, a 4-storey space (-1, first floor, 0, 1 and 2) dedicated to modern and contemporary art, communicating with all other parts of the museum.
- The first floor, where you can admire collections of works from the 13th to the 18th centuries and part of the temporary exhibition.
- On the second floor, 19th and 20th century art collections and part of the temporary exhibition are on display.
- The second floor and first basement are occupied only by the modern and contemporary art collection and part of the temporary exhibition.
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Visiting with children
Don't hesitate to visit the museum with your family! We think it's a remarkable way of awakening young people to art and its history. Various facilities have been set up to provide children with an interesting, fun and interactive experience:
- Family Sundays: every Sunday from September to June, admission to the museum is free for children and reduced for accompanying adults.
- game books: these were not available at the time of our visit, but the museum plans to offer them to young visitors in the near future.
- the "my visit" application: downloadable onto your phone, it allows you to follow the itinerary easily and to benefit from information on the collections. By selecting the"family tour", you'll have access to adapted content and games to play with your children: quiz, 7 differences, puzzle...
- take advantage of"Discovery Saturdays" to offer your children a themed tour with commentary, followed by a workshop to create and experiment.
Schedules and rates
The Nantes Arts Museum is open daily from 11am to 7pm, except Tuesdays.
Night-time events are held every Thursday until 9pm.
We strongly advise you to check our opening times and special closing days before your visit.
Prices are as follows:
- Full price: €9
- Reduced rate: €4
- Free admission: every 1st Sunday of the month, except July and August, and every Thursday night from 7pm to 9pm.
Find out more here.
If you wish to visit several tourist attractions during your stay in Nantes, we recommend the Nantes City Card Pass .
You'll benefit from lower rates on your visits. It includes over 50 venues across the city.
Guided tours
The museum offers a wide variety of guided tour formats. We were pleasantly surprised by these different ways of exploring art. We think you're sure to find the way that suits you best.
Thursdays:
- from 12:30 to 1:30 pm, discover the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
- from 7.15pm, the museum offers two types of tour. A theme, chronological or unusual. The program varies from week to week. Or an art history exploration tour.
Fridays: from 3 pm to 4:30 pm, experience a thematic and transchronological exploration of art history.
Sundays: guided tours are scheduled throughout the day.
We recommend booking guided tours in advance. Find out more here.
Alternatively, you can visit the museum on your own via the "Ma Visite" mobile app . We found it very useful and practical! Ideal if there are no guided tours scheduled at the time you wish to visit. You'll be able to follow a thematic trail and enjoy a host of interactive activities.
Catering
After your visit, you deserve a little gourmet break! We recommend a visit to the Café du Musée to sample the cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Eric Guérin. It showcases the flavors of the region with fresh, seasonal produce. Open all day, you can take advantage of this catering space for brunches, lunches, snacks or just nibbles. Find out more here.
Or check out our selection of the city's best restaurants!
Start of the tour: discovering ancient art
From the Italian Primitives to the Renaissance masters, plunge into the origins of painting. On the first floor, you'll discover masterpieces by the great names in painting, from the 13th to the 18th century.
In the first room, we went back in time to the origins of painting and the Renaissance masters. You'll also find themed cabinets: saints and heroes, heavenly foods, earthly foods...
In the Caravaggesque room, we loved discovering works using the chiaroscuro technique.
Finally, the tour concludes with large-scale 17th-century paintings. Then the dance and musical theatricality of the 18th century, culminating in the Napoleonic legend.
We experienced a veritable pictorial odyssey in this first part of the museum.
We've chosen to tell you about a few works in particular. The ones that struck us most as we explored the different eras and artistic currents.
The Renaissance masters
Italian Renaissance painting originated in Italy in the 14th century.
During our visit, we discovered that the artists of this movement were inspired by Greek and Roman models. They are interested in anatomy, proportions and perspective.
The great names of this key period include Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Raphael and Donatello, to name but a few. Find out more here.
You'll find that these paintings depict the world with precision and detail. Particular attention is paid to light, textures and character expressions. There are many representations of mythological and biblical subjects in this movement.
The Italian Renaissance also saw the arrival of new techniques. Oil paint, for example, offers greater depth and color control.
We particularly enjoyed Andrea Solario's "Christ Carrying His Cross".
This oil painting dates from around 1513. It depicts a key moment in the series of events that preceded and accompanied the death of Jesus Christ.
We were struck by the poignant expression of Christ's suffering and the skilful use of light and color.
Through this work and all the others we have admired in this collection, we have gained a better understanding of the Italian Renaissance movement in painting. It celebrates the beauty and perfection of the world and the human being.
Exploring Baroque brilliance
We continued our visit by discovering the collection of Baroque paintings.
This artistic movement is considered to be just after Renaissance painting. Its most famous representatives come from Italy and the Netherlands, such as Caravaggio and Rubens. Some of their works are also on display at the Musée de Beaux-Arts in Rouen.
We found that the compositions of this movement are often lively. There are diagonals, swirling draperies and figures in action...
We also appreciated the theatrical use of light and shadow, creating intense tension and depth.
You'll notice that the colors are often warm and bold, accentuating the emotional impact of the paintings.
The Baroque style aims to capture your attention and transport you to a world of passion, ecstasy and spirituality.
In this collection, 2 works in particular caught our attention:
The first is "Diana the Huntress", by Orazio Gentileschi.
Produced between 1624 and 1630, it is one of the artist's most famous works. We admired its strength and originality.
We liked this depiction of Diana as a powerful, independent goddess. The light and contrasts gave us the impression of enhancing its beauty and sensuality. However, we found his expression distant and unapproachable - you too?
The painting influenced many artists, including Orazio's daughter Artemisia Gentileschi, who painted several versions.
The second is "Le sommeil de Renaud" by Charles Coypel.
We discovered that this painting was inspired by Ariosto's 16th-century chivalric poem. Find out more here.
In his work, Coypel chose to emphasize the love component of the story.
You'll notice that the artist uses the whole cast of characters as a choir to expand the painting's temporality. It traces the relationship between the main characters: Angélique and Médor.
In the episode depicted by the painter, the sorceress Armide, who had premeditated the death of the knight Renaud, lulls him to sleep by a river thanks to the song of a siren. But Renaud's sleeping smile inspired love. She then gave up trying to kill him and took him back to her palace.
We have learned that this painting was part of one of the painter's most important commissions for the Gobelins factory.
Fabulous chiaroscuro
Our tour continues with the discovery of chiaroscuro. This pictorial technique uses the contrast between light and shadow to create volume, depth and drama in paintings. By playing with the intensity and distribution of light, the artist can enhance certain elements of the painting and soften others. We found the light-dark compositions dynamic and vibrant.
This technique was used by many of the great Renaissance and Baroque masters, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Caravaggio.
We loved the ambience of this room, where the darkness makes the paintings all the more luminous.
You should notice that chiaroscuro enhances shapes, creates mysterious atmospheres and captures your attention.
We also loved Georges de La Tour's "The Dream of Saint Joseph".
This emblematic work by the French painter was produced around 1630-1635. It illustrates a biblical episode in which an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, announcing the birth of Christ.
We found that the soft, mysterious light emanating from the angel contrasted with the surrounding darkness, highlighting the sleeping figure of Saint Joseph.
Also, the angel's illuminated face immediately caught our attention, didn't it?
This work struck us as silent poetry. It is often praised for its spiritual depth and its ability to evoke the mystery of the Christian faith. The Master has succeeded in capturing the moment when the divine touches the earthly, creating an atmosphere of transcendence and revelation. What do you think?
The tour continues: a plunge into the works of the 19th century
We continue our visit on the second floor, exploring the 19th-century masterpieces. You'll discover a collection that reflects the abundance and diversity of styles that made up the art history of this period.
The selection offers a panorama of the main artistic trends of the period.
Here you can admire neo-classical works such as "Portrait de Madame de Senonnes" by Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres. You'll also discover orientalism and realism illustrated by Gustave Courbet's "Les Cribleuses de blé". Last but not least, you'll see emblematic works of Impressionism such as Auguste Rodin's "Les Trois Ombres" and Claude Monet's famous "Nymphéas".
In fact, if you're interested in Monet's work, we strongly recommend a visit to the Gardens and House of Claude Monet at Giverny.
We found this collection to be exceptional! It is one of the richest of French museums. Did you know?
A journey to the heart of Romanticism
We begin our exploration with the discovery of Romanticism.
This artistic movement developed in Europe in the early 19th century. It is characterized by emotional expression, imagination, subjectivity and dreams.
We learned that Romantic painters often drew inspiration from nature, history and mythology. They used vivid colors, expressive shapes and dynamic compositions to create works that touched the heart and soul of the viewer.
The great masters of this movement include Eugène Delacroix, Francisco Goya and Caspar David Friedrich.
In fact, one of the works by one of these great painters was the highlight of our visit: "Le Kaïd, chef marocain" by Eugène Delacroix.
Painted in 1837, it is one of the painter's most emblematic works. We learned that it was a trip to Morocco in 1832 that inspired this scene. We enjoyed observing this portrait, which exudes an imposing presence. Dressed in his traditional garb, don't you think he exudes an aura of power and dignity?
You'll notice the vibrant colors and striking contrasts characteristic of Delacroix. We found they enhanced the character's majesty.
This work testifies to the painter's deep interest in exoticism and oriental cultures. We felt that the emotional intensity of this performance was remarkably well captured.
The mirror of Realism
During our visit, we also discovered works belonging to the Realist movement.
This is characterized by the objective and precise representation of reality. We discovered that realist painters reject idealization and romanticism. Their aim is to represent the world as it is. Even its most mundane and sometimes even sordid aspects. As you look at the works, you'll discover that the technique used is precise and detailed, akin to photography.
The main artists of the Realist movement include: Gustave Courbet, Honoré Daumier, Jean-François Millet...
We really liked the painting entitled"Les cribleuses de blé" by Gustave Courbet.
This work, created in 1854, is one of the French painter's most famous. We enjoyed immersing ourselves in this uncompromisingly realistic depiction of 19th-century farming life. There, we observed the harshness of agricultural work and the poverty of living conditions for peasants at the time.
The diffuse, natural light combined with the dark, earthy colors gave the scene a human, social dimension. This work helped make Courbet one of the most important painters of his time.
We have learned, however, that some see it as a metaphor for painting itself. According to this hypothesis, the artist would be represented by the woman in the center, the grains of wheat would symbolize the pigment and the sheet, the canvas. What do you think?
Sculpture, a dialogue with matter
We discovered that the 19th century was marked by abundant sculptural production. Not least thanks to official commissions linked to urban change and the secularization of public life.
Under Napoleon III and the 3rd Republic, cities and governments competed to beautify public spaces. We also learned that the rise of a wealthy bourgeoisie and its attraction to statuary work helped make it fashionable.
Great artists have marked this century in France. For example, François Rude, Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel...
The Nantes Arts Museum is home to many sculptures. Among them, we enjoyed"Les Trois Ombres" by Auguste Rodin. This work by the French sculptor was produced before 1886. This is the dominant element of his major work: the famous "Gates of Hell". Find out more here.
If you have the opportunity to see this monumental sculpture, which is housed in the Musée Rodin in Paris, you'll notice that "Les Trois Ombres" (The Three Shadows) is at the very top. We learned that they symbolize the despair of the damned.
It is said that the sculptor found the inspiration for these figures in Dante's famous poem "The Divine Comedy". These characters seemed to us to embody the poet's phrase "You who enter, leave all hope". What do you think?
End of visit: between modern and contemporary art
Our tour continues in "The Cube". A brand-new 2,000 m2 space on 4 levels, dedicated to modern and contemporary art collections.
The Nantes Arts Museum is one of those art establishments that has remained continuously connected to the art of its time. Thanks to ongoing acquisitions since the 1980s, you'll discover one of the finest national collections of contemporary art.
Modern art, the liberation of color and form
Modern art refers to a period that generally stretches from the mid-19th century to the 1950s. We learned that this period was characterized by an upheaval of established artistic conventions.
As you explore the museum's collection, you'll notice that it is marked by the emergence of new movements. For example, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism and so on. You'll see remarkable paintings of modern and contemporary art.
Modern art is characterized by a diversity of styles and approaches, and by an exploration of subjectivity, form and color.
Among the leading artists of this period are Claude Cahun, Sonia Delaunay, Jean Gorin, Vassily Kandinsky... These artists are generally exhibited in modern art museums.
We loved discovering the museum's modern art collection. The break in style, form and convention contrasts with the works we have admired since the start of our visit.
We've fallen in love with 3 works that we'd like to mention in this article.
- The first is Vassily Kandinsky's"Schwarzer Raster" (Black Raster ).
This work by the famous Russian artist, produced in 1922, is part of the Abstract Expressionist movement. You'll see a superimposition of figurative and abstract elements, organized around a central structure.
We noted the use of fundamental geometric shapes: circle, triangle, square. Do you notice how each line and color expresses a unique energy and dynamic? We have long admired the contrasts in this work. The movement and abundance of colorful elements contrasts with the rigor of the static, opaque black-and-white grid.
- The next is"Construction plastique n°97 - Relations de volumes dans l'espace" by Jean Gorin.
This 1930 work by the French artist is part of the geometric abstraction movement.
Is there a sense of déjà vu about this work? It's a spatial adaptation of the famous work by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian.
We observed the transposition, in 3 dimensions, of the elements present in Mondrian's works. In the latter's paintings, dating from the same period, we find the same components: straight lines, primary colors accompanied by black, white and gray, and a flat application of paint.
We really enjoyed looking at this work from every angle.
Did you know? The Dutch painter's work also inspired Yves Saint Laurent for a collection of dresses in 1965. Find out more here.
- The latest is Sonia Delaunay's"Nu Jaune ".
This work by the Ukrainian artist, created in 1908, is part of the Orphism movement. This artistic movement, emerging in the early 20th century, emphasizes the use of bright colors and abstract geometric shapes. This expresses the sensation of movement and dynamism.
We really enjoyed observing this painting, in which colors dominate over shapes. The warm yellow contrasts with the cool blue-green shadows. Accented by the black solid colors of the stockings and hair. Do you notice the dialogue between the eroticism suggested by the prostitute in black stockings and the more traditional pose of the studio model?
The fascinating visual interplay of colors and geometric shapes captured our attention and marked our visit.
New explorations in contemporary art
We learned that the Musée d'Arts de Nantes' contemporary collection underwent a remarkable expansion in the late 1980s. It is one of the few French museums to maintain such a constant commitment to contemporary art. The collection is remarkable for its diversity and richness.
It includes works from various artistic movements such as Arte Povera, Nouveau Réalisme and Supports/Surfaces. We have also observed that video art is widely represented. From the pioneers of the genre to the most contemporary expressions, we were able to observe a complete panorama of trends and evolutions in this form of artistic expression.
The end of our visit was marked by the discovery of a neo-expressionist work by the artist Sigmar Polke. This painting by the German artist was created in 2001. A portrait of a woman that echoes all the others we came across on our visit, the oldest dating back to the 16th century. In particular, he reminded us of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres's "Portrait de Mme Senonnes" (1814). What about you?
We liked the fluorescent and phosphorescent colors of this work, created using a variety of techniques.
Polke is considered one of the most influential painters of the post-war period. His work is extremely diverse, ranging from painting and drawing to photography, installation and film.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any temporary exhibitions at the Nantes Arts Museum?
Yes, there are 3 highlights in the year: 2 major temporary exhibitions and a contemporary art installation following the rhythm of the seasons, spring, summer and autumn. The temporary exhibition is usually divided into 3 areas: in the basement, in the "White Room". On the ground floor in the patio, and on the 1st floor in the chapel and space n°25.
When did the Nantes Fine Arts Museum change its name?
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes changed its name in 2017, when it reopened after major renovation work. It became the Nantes Arts Museum.
This change underlines the institution's desire to open up to a greater diversity of artistic expression and to better reflect the richness of its collections, which now span the 13th to the 21st centuries.
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