Jacques Cartier Museum

The Jacques Cartier Museum is a Renaissance-era home in Saint-Malo that once belonged to the explorer after his return from his voyages. The building contains several rooms filled with period maps, globes, navigation tools, and documents that illustrate exploration and daily life in the 1500s.

Jacques Cartier set sail from Saint-Malo in the early 1500s seeking a route to Asia but instead explored coasts of present-day Canada. After his voyages, he expanded his home to make it more impressive, and it now stands as a record of early European exploration and his personal life.

Jacques Cartier's name is deeply linked to Saint-Malo's maritime identity and locals speak of him with pride. The house itself reflects how a successful seafaring family lived during the Renaissance, with rooms showing daily routines and the blend of home and trade life.

The museum can only be visited with a guide, and tours run on specific days, so it is best to check opening hours in advance. The location is central and easily walkable from the old town of Saint-Malo, making it simple to include in a stroll through the historic quarter.

The building started as a farm that Cartier himself transformed to match his status as a successful sailor after his return. This personal renovation shows how he shaped his home to reflect his achievements and elevated position in society.