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's name changed with its role: founded in 1961 as the Musée automobile de la Sarthe, renamed Musée des 24 Heures - Circuit de la Sarthe in 2009, and Musée des 24 Heures du Mans since 2017. Its 4,236 miniature cars at 1/43 scale represent every car entered in the race since 1923, and an on-site workshop lets visitors watch vehicles being restored.
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.
The museum holds a collection of 4,236 miniature 1/43-scale cars representing every vehicle that has taken part in the race since 1923, shown alongside several historical dioramas. A workshop inside the building lets visitors watch cars being restored. The museum was founded in 1961 on the initiative of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and the Conseil général de la Sarthe.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,791 contributors worldwide.
