Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Sables d’Olonne
Also known as the Musée de l’Abbaye Sainte-Croix (MASC) because of its location, the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain des Sables d’Olonne is a must-see in the Vendée.
In a superb setting, you’ll discover a rich collection of paintings and plastic arts, accessible to the whole family.
Exhibitions at the Musée de l’Abbaye Sainte-Croix
The exceptional setting of the former 17th-century Benedictine abbey that houses the MASC is worth the detour alone. During your visit, you’ll admire the building’s sumptuous framework and boat-hull-shaped attic.
But it is above all for its collections of modern and contemporary art that the museum is renowned. It features the most important public exhibition of the painter and writer Gaston Chaissac, with over 150 works and hundreds of writings.
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Another central artist at MASC is Dadaist and Surrealist painter Victor Brauner, whose famous “Mythology and Mother’s Day” series is on permanent display.
The MASC collection features other emblematic artists from Sables d’Olonne, including Albert Marquet, Jules Lefranc and Jean Launois. Also featured are cubist Henri Le Fauconnier, minimalist François Morellet and the father of Art Brut, Jean Dubuffet. Foreign artists included Germans Georg Baselitz and Max Beckmann, and Spanish painter Antonio Guansé.
Throughout the year, visits are enhanced by themed temporary exhibitions, featuring works of art in a wide variety of forms.
Tours of the Musée d’Art Moderne in Les Sables d’Olonne
The Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain des Sables d’Olonne is open from Tuesday to Sunday, during school and vacation periods. Closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Individual visits
Free admission for adults, students and large families. Admission is free for jobseekers and those on low-income benefits, and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.
Tours and workshops for children
Classic tours are free for under-18s. Two programs are specially reserved for young people, with educational games and workshops: “Family Sundays” (free for children, reduced admission for parents) and “Holidays at the Museum” (Wednesdays in summer).
Group tours
Groups of 10 or more can book a guided or self-guided tour at MASC (reduced rate). Several times a year, free guided tours are also organized at night. School groups are also welcome free of charge at the museum, with educational tools and thematic booklets.
Events and conferences
Every month, the museum organizes thematic lectures on major modern and contemporary artists. Various events and activities are also held throughout the year, including concerts.
How do I get to the museum from the campsite?
The Musée de l’Abbaye Sainte-Croix is just a few minutes from the main beach of Les Sables d’Olonne, on rue de Verdun. It’s just 9 km from Camping Bois Soleil d’Olonne-sur-Mer. You can get there in 20 minutes by car, and there’s plenty of parking available.
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Take a half-hour bike ride through the salt marshes to reach the MASC via the cycle paths accessible from the Bois Soleil campsite. You can rent bikes directly from the campsite, for half a day, a day or a whole week.
Camping near the museum in Les Sables d’Olonne
Right next to the center of Les Sables d’Olonne, the 4-star Bois Soleil campsite is located on the coast, in the heart of the Vendée countryside. For a comfortable vacation, you can rent a mobile home with your partner, family or friends. All rentals are fully equipped and feature a terrace on a spacious pitch.
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If you prefer traditional camping, reserve a plot for your tent, caravan or motorhome. Camping Bois Soleil is just a stone’s throw from the beach, but also boasts a vast pool complex. It includes an outdoor swimming pool and a heated indoor pool, as well as two paddling pools for children.
Four slides provide fun for all the family, and complement the campsite’s many attractions. A solarium area with deckchairs and parasols awaits you to bask in the Côte de Lumière sunshine. To relax, opt for the spa with hammam, or the jacuzzi and hydromassage jets.