The university's collections: a heritage to discover

The University of Rennes houses one of the most beautiful university collections in France, appreciated by visitors and known by French and international researchers.

A remarkable collection

The University of Rennes houses scientific collections that are remarkable for their quality and the number of objects held (1,300,000 specimens), but also and above all for the range of disciplines they represent: archaeology, botany, geology, scientific instruments (physics, chemistry, electronics, computing, mathematics), zoology, but also books and rare documents as well as works classified as historical monuments, such as the paintings of Yvonne Jean-Haffen and Mathurin Méheut.

These collections stimulate curiosity and convey emotion. They are ideal for scientific and technical culture activities: exhibitions, conferences, etc., where art and culture often join science.

Détail d'un objet issu des collections d'archéologie

Archaeology

Thousands of archaeological objects and documents from regional, national and foreign sites.

Spécimen des collections de botanique

Botany

An internationally renowned herbarium, a botanical greenhouse, an arboretum, hundreds of plant plates and models

Spécimen issu des collections de géologie

Geology

One million items shared between minerals, rocks, fossils and other objects related to the history and functioning of the Earth.

Objets de la collection d'instruments scienitiques

Scientific instruments

A thousand instruments from the 19th century and more than 3,000 contemporary objects, witnesses of technological innovation through the centuries

Livres anciens

Old books, manuscripts and incunabula

Works dating from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century, accessible to all, for consultation on site or in digital format.

Visite des collections de zoologie

Zoology

Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects... An astonishing bestiary of 150,000 specimens preserved in the form of naturalizations, skeletons, specimens in fluid, dry mounts.

Les Rhinocéros laineux, tableau de Mathurin Méheut

Artistic heritage

Sculptures, mosaics, tapestries, paintings, silkscreens... 55 works of art on display on the university's campuses.