The Entrepôt Lainé was designed by architect Claude Deschamps and completed in 1824.
During the Second World War, the warehouse served as a German submarine base support facility.
The museum was officially founded in 1973 by Jean-Louis Froment.
The building features iconic, massive wooden pillars that reflect the structure's original function as a trading depot.
The museum holds a specialized library dedicated to contemporary art with over 35,000 references.
Many works in the collection were designed specifically to be site-specific to the warehouse's unique architectural geometry.
The CAPC Musée d'art Contemporain de Bordeaux is housed in the Entrepôt Lainé, a former 19th-century colonial warehouse used for storing exotic goods like coffee, sugar, and cotton. The building is characterized by its massive stone arches and timber-framed interior, which were preserved during its 1970s conversion into an art space. The museum serves as a center for contemporary art, hosting a collection of over 1,300 works by 190 artists. It is located in the heart of Bordeaux, situated on the edge of the Chartrons district. The museum focuses on international contemporary art, specifically minimalist, conceptual, and land art movements. The permanent collection includes significant works by artists such as Christian Boltanski and Richard Long. The facility spans over 10,000 square meters of exhibition space. It frequently hosts large-scale temporary installations that utilize the building's cavernous industrial architecture.
The wide-angle perspective from the ground floor looking up at the central nave's wooden columns.
Visit the top floor for the best vantage point of the interior architecture.
Check the museum's exhibition calendar before arrival, as some floors may be inaccessible during large-scale installation changes.
Combine your visit with a walk through the neighboring Chartrons antique district.
Do not assume the entire building is accessible if an installation covers the ground floor, and avoid rushing through the large main hall.
Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
