Five Must-See Art Venues in Rennes
Rennes, home to over 73,000 students, is known for its vibrant nightlife but also offers rich cultural heritage. The city boasts the Musée des Beaux-Arts, founded in 1794, housing masterpieces like Georges de La Tour's "Le Nouveau-né" (c. 1645) and works by Rubens, Caillebotte, Picasso, Chardin, and Geneviève Asse. Its new satellite in Maurepas, designed by Nantes-based Titan agency, opened in 2025 with free admission. Les Champs Libres is a multi-purpose facility with a library, a museum of the writer Henri Pollès, the Musée de Bretagne, and the Espace des sciences. La Criée, a contemporary art center since 1986 located in a covered market, offers free exhibitions, artist residencies, and a bookstore. 40mcube, founded in 2001, is a labeled art center with free exhibitions, a seven-month professional training program, and public art commissions. The FRAC Bretagne, designed by architect Odile Decq, features multiple exhibition levels, a bookstore, and the Choupiquant restaurant, with a visible collection reserve and off-site programs throughout the region.
Key facts
- Rennes has over 73,000 students
- Musée des Beaux-Arts founded in 1794
- Georges de La Tour's 'Le Nouveau-né' (c. 1645) is a highlight
- New Maurepas satellite opened in 2025, designed by Titan agency
- Les Champs Libres includes library, Musée de Bretagne, Espace des sciences
- La Criée contemporary art center established in 1986
- 40mcube founded in 2001, offers free professional training
- FRAC Bretagne designed by Odile Decq
Entities
Artists
- Georges de La Tour
- Rubens
- Caillebotte
- Picasso
- Chardin
- Geneviève Asse
- Christophe-Paul de Robien
- Henri Pollès
- Odorico
- Violaine Lochu
- Laura Gozlan
- Odile Decq
- François Morellet
- Yvonne Paumelle
- Vera Molnár
- Aurelie Nemours
- Philippe Cognée
- Brankica Žilović
- Frédéric Bouffandeau
- Jonathan Roze
- Pia Chevalier
- François Malingrëy
- Invader
- Ella & Pitr
- Michaël Chéneau
- Dominique Divet
- Marie-Claude Divet
- Anaïs Divet
- Ernest Guérin
- René Quillivic
- Sami Toualit
- Yves Trémorin
- Jochen Gerner
- Frédérique Rusch
Institutions
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes-Maurepas
- Les Champs Libres
- Musée de Bretagne
- Espace des sciences
- La Criée centre d'art contemporain
- 40mcube
- FRAC Bretagne
- Beaux Arts
- Titan
- galerie Valeria Cetraro
- Oniris
- Jonathan Roze
- Le Failler
- Couvent des Jacobins
- collection Pinault
- La Criée
- Frac Bretagne
- Galerie Oniris
- Art Paris
- Drawing Now
- Galerie Jonathan Roze
- Galerie MICA
- Galerie Divet
- Lendroit éditions
Locations
- Rennes
- France
- Saint-Michel
- piscine Saint-Georges
- Bretone
- quai Zola
- Maurepas
- Nantes
- Quai Emile Zola
- Allée Georges de la Tour
- Cours des Alliés
- Place Honoré Commeurec
- Avenue Sergent Maginot
- Avenue André Mussat
- Brittany
- Saint-Grégoire
- Place du Parlement de Bretagne
- Avenue Aristide-Briand
- Place du Colombier
- 38 Rue d'Antrain
- 4 Place du Parlement de Bretagne
- La Brosse
- 35760 Saint-Grégoire
- 4 Rue Saint-Guillaume
- 24 bis Place du Colombier