Musée des 24 Heures du Mans, Motor racing museum at Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France
The Musée des 24 Heures du Mans is a motor racing museum located at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans that displays around 140 competition vehicles. The collection includes cars from manufacturers such as Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Ford, Porsche, Matra, and Audi arranged throughout the exhibition spaces.
The museum opened in 1961 as the Automobile Museum de la Sarthe before relocating to a dedicated facility in 1991 under management by the race organizers. This move allowed for a more comprehensive collection and better presentation of racing history.
The museum displays cars from an era when racing drivers were daring and sometimes reckless, and the machines reflect that culture. The collection shows how speed and mechanical innovation became central to European pride and identity.
The facility is located directly on the racing circuit, so it is worth planning a full half day for a visit to also explore the track itself. Opening hours vary by season, so it is best to check in advance before arriving.
Visitors can actually step out onto the legendary racing track where professional drivers compete for 24 hours every year. Standing on the actual circuit grounds and seeing the track layout firsthand is something few other motorsport museums can offer.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
