The Museum of the Resistance in Brittany - Saint-Marcel is a historical place, the place where the historical battles of 1944 took place. The museum plunges you into the heart of the battle of Saint-Marcel through its exhibitions of images and collections. After an extension project, the museum has reopened its doors with new attractions to discover.
In the heart of the Landes de Lanvaux lies the small commune of Saint-Marcel. The Museum of the Resistance in Brittany is located in this peaceful landscape, which has become one of the most important places to visit in Brittany.
The building was built on the site of the great battle between the Germans and Free France, the latter supported by the children of the country. Classified as a “Musée de France” for its cultural and historical value, this 1500 m2 building houses collections of pictures, books and various artillery items.
Pour votre séjour en Bretagne, une halte dans la petite commune de Saint-Marcel vous invite à plonger dans l’histoire du grand ralliement breton, d’une bataille acharnée qui a porté ses fruits grâce à l’union des forces de la France Libre et de milliers de braves jeunes Bretons.
Ce vaste espace de 1500 m2 comprenant originellement six grandes salles d’exposition et de vidéoprojection accueille aujourd’hui un « patio mémoriel », une nouveauté pour les habitués des lieux. Le parc extérieur est consacré à l’organisation de divers évènements dont les journées de reconstitution et de commémoration de la Résistance Française.
During your stay in Brittany, a stopover in the small town of Saint-Marcel invites you to dive into the history of the great Breton rally, of a fierce battle that bore fruit thanks to the union of the forces of Free France and thousands of brave young Bretons.
This vast 1,500 m2 space, originally comprising six large exhibition and video projection rooms, now houses a “memorial patio”, a novelty for those who are used to the place. The outdoor park is dedicated to the organisation of various events, including re-enactment and commemoration days of the French Resistance.
All year round, the museum exhibits collections of vehicles, weapons, collections of tracts and clandestine newspapers that bear witness to the atmosphere of the time. On your own or in a group, a historian guide will accompany you on an animated tour to retrace the major events that led to the Battle of Saint-Marcel.
Interactive visit and audiovisual projection on a large screen
The museum prides itself on offering new content and innovative devices to enrich the visit. You will have the pleasure of discovering the new extensions, including the memorial patio, a place of remembrance or the space dedicated to the historial of the SAS paratroopers of Free France.
New digital and interactive resources allow for an intuitive immersion into the heart of history. If you wish to go further, you can linger over the large screen projections of audiovisual documentaries and testimonies of former Breton resistance fighters.
As a tribute to the commitment and sacrifice of the young Resistance fighters, the museum organises an annual re-enactment of history. The programme includes a parade with more than 300 extras in military dress, the parachuting and dropping of containers, the re-enactment of the battle and the liberation ball. For the occasion, all the events from 1939 to 1945 are time-stamped on a historical chart.
Reopened on 18 June 2021, the Museum of the Resistance in Brittany – Saint-Marcel is accessible to the general public until September, unless the calendar changes. Throughout the summer, the site is open every day from 10am to 6pm. To get there, the museum is located at Les Hardys Behelec Saint-Marcel Malestroit 56140.
