• Work is starting at the Dobrée museum, which is not scheduled to reopen before the end of 2023.

  • If the three buildings will be kept, big changes are planned.

After more than ten years of closure and disappointments, things are finally moving at the Dobrée museum in Nantes.

Since Monday, the building rehabilitation and extension project has started under the eyes of residents, who will be able to follow these two years (at least) of work through the gates.

Already, large construction machinery and barriers of all kinds have arrived on the scene, and “no entry” signs have been placed everywhere.

"It will be a question of initiating the earthworks, deconstruction of the buried buildings and the realization of the shell, indicated last year the departmental council about the first phase of work, against which a non-suspensive appeal was deposit.

At the same time, the roofs of the Dobrée palace and the Jean V manor will be completely renewed.

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As a reminder, this archaeological museum in downtown Nantes, rich in 135,000 works covering 500,000 years and the five continents, had remained as it was after a first project was twice retoked by the courts, due to 'too large a construction area.

A second version was counting on "sobriety" both architectural and financial, but the envelope had finally exploded to reach ... 43 million euros.

The three preserved buildings

Concretely, the three current buildings of the museum will be preserved and will each have their function: the Voltaire building (the most modern) will be highlighted and will include the main reception of the public, but also the shop, teaching rooms, or the restaurant, while the Dobrée palace will be dedicated to the permanent collections.

The Manoir de la Touche will house the temporary exhibitions.

A modern, metallic and glazed extension will be attached to it to install an elevator and stairs.

The changes are also expected to be significant outside, while a development project of place Jean V and rue Voltaire, which aims to "create a peaceful and vegetated promenade in the heart of Nantes", has been launched. by the town hall.

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