Musée de la Cohue, Art museum in central Vannes, France
The Musée de la Cohue is a museum housed in a medieval stone structure featuring a central passage with multiple exhibition spaces distributed across two main floors. The rooms blend original architectural elements with rotating art displays and a permanent collection.
The building originally served as a marketplace on its ground floor and as a ducal court of justice on the upper level until 1796. Its later transformation into an art museum marked a new chapter in its long history of public use.
The museum displays works by local and contemporary artists that engage with the medieval architecture around them. Visitors can observe how modern installations interact with the historic stone passages and spaces.
The entrance is centrally located in Vannes and easily accessible on foot from the town center. The two levels are connected by stairs, so exploring the medieval rooms requires some mobility to navigate comfortably.
The central passage was once the bustling heart of the medieval marketplace and remains the vital core of the building. Today the museum uses this historical flow of space to frame rotating art installations that offer visitors a fresh perspective on the past.
Location: Vannes
Official opening: 1982
Address: 22, rue des Halles
Phone: +33297016300
Website: https://mairie-vannes.fr/la-cohue
GPS coordinates: 47.65760,-2.75750
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44
Vannes is a medieval town in Brittany with fortifications dating from the 13th century, including preserved walls, fortified gates, and towers. Saint-Pierre Cathedral, originally built in the 13th century and later modified, stands in the heart of the old town surrounded by half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. The Musée de la Cohue displays collections of regional art and history, while the Musée d'Histoire et d'Archéologie presents artifacts from Gaulish and Roman periods. The marina connects the town to the Gulf of Morbihan, a protected bay with more than 40 islands. Historic sites include the 14th-century Château de l'Hermine, once a ducal residence, and several religious buildings such as Église Saint-Patern. The Porte Saint-Vincent, a 17th-century city gate, leads to the center with squares like Place Henri IV and Place Gambetta. The Marché des Lices, a weekly market, takes place in the old town. Beyond the walls lie the Marais de Séné nature reserve with salt marshes and birdwatching stations, and Branféré animal park about 12 miles (20 km) away. Conleau beach provides access to the gulf, and boat tours by Vedettes du Golfe depart from the harbor.
Vannes Cathedral
58 m
Vannes ramparts
201 m
Rempart
178 m
Vannes et sa femme
101 m
Château de l'Hermine
184 m
Château-Gaillard
86 m
Tour du Connétable de Vannes
178 m
Gardens by the City Walls
190 m
Château de la Motte
135 m
Vannes Centre Historique
98 m
Maison de Saint-Vincent
86 m
Hôtel Saint-Georges
74 m
Maison, 11 place des Lices
185 m
Place Saint-Pierre
12 m
Pipe organ of Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Vannes
58 m
Maison, 21 rue Saint-Guenhaël
59 m
Maison, 2 rue Émile Burgault à Vannes
46 m
Maison, 19 rue Saint-Guenhaël
64 m
Maison, 29 rue Saint-Guenhaël
44 m
Maison, 2 place Henri IV
27 m
Maison, 6 place Henri IV (Vannes)
34 m
Maison, 10 rue Saint-Salomon (Vannes)
62 m
Maison, 31 rue Saint-Guenhaël
46 m
Maison, 25-27 rue Saint-Guenhaël
50 m
Maison, 23 rue Saint-Guenhaël
55 m
Maison, 17 rue Saint-Guenhaël
68 m
Maison, 1 place Henri IV
19 m
Maison, 23 rue des Halles
53 mReviews
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