Located in the heart of the “ville-close”, the Musée de la Pêche plunges you into the fascinating world of fishing and reveals the secrets of maritime activity. The Musée de la Pêche in Concarneau features an impressive collection of boats, artifacts and models to help you discover the historic activity of fishing. A visit not to be missed during your weekend or week in Concarneau at our 5-star Concarneau Le Cabellou Plage campsite.
The history of the Musée de la Pêche in Concarneau
In 1961, the association “Les Amis du Musée de la Pêche” was created, and the museum was inaugurated the same year.
Since 1961, housed behind the walls of the Ville Close, the Musée de la Pêche has been tracing thehistory of fishing on an international scale, and telling the story of men and women who combine traditional crafts with industrial techniques. It is the first museum in France to focus on fishing techniques from around the world, from shipbuilding to fish preservation.
The museum’s oldest buildings date back to the 16th century and include a chapel and barracks, which became a local school, then a fishing school and finally a marine cooperative.
During the Museum’s early years, from 1961 to 1970, donations from local people were the mainstay of its collections. In its first year, it welcomed 12,000 visitors, and today receives between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors every year. The 1500 m² Musée de la Pêche de Concarneau features boats, models, aquariums, showcases, videos and all kinds of objects from the daily life of fishermen, to answer all your questions about fishing, shipbuilding and fish preservation.
In 2003, the Musée de la Pêche was awarded the“Musée de France” designation, bringing it recognition from the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, as well as greater identification for the public. Since 2012, the museum has been managed by Concarneau Cornouaille Agglomération.
A visit to the Fishing Museum in Concarneau
The museum’s immense collection is largely the result of purchases and donations, and in over 60 years of existence, the museum has enriched its collection with never-before-seen naval models built by model-makers in the museum’s workshop.
The history of fishing since ancient times is reconstructed through a collection of over 3,000 items.
During your 2-hour tour, you’ll discover various aspects of fishing, including shipbuilding techniques, fishing methods and fish preservation.
From exhibits to aquariums, slide shows to boats and superb models, a variety of educational tools give the visit a playful, child-friendly dimension. The Musée de la Pêche has also set up a virtual tour, the “carré des mousses”, enabling visitors to experience the maritime world through play.
Afloat, you can visit the Hémérica, a 1957 semi-industrial side trawler which has been berthed since 1987 and was restored in 2014.
The Musée de la Pêche also organizes animated workshops for children during the school vacations.
In addition, for academic research, it is also possible to explore the valuable works in the museum’s documentation center, where almost 1,000 references can be consulted by appointment.
Practical information for visiting the Musée de la Pêche in Concarneau
The Musée de la Pêche is open all year round, except in January:
February to June and September to December:
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- July and August: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission is free for under-18s and 5 euros for adults.
Throughout the year, the Musée de la Pêche offers a wide range of activities for children and families, as well as guided tours for school groups.
