Exhibitions in Bayonne: what to see in the museums?

The Bonnat-Helleu Museum, at the heart of Bayonne's exhibitions

A landmark of the region, the Bonnat-Helleu Museum reopens in late 2025 after fourteen years of work and redefines the city's cultural offering. Its surface area has doubled, growing from 2,000 to 5,000 m² thanks to the Brochet, Lajus and Pueyo practice, which incorporated the former primary school of Petit Bayonne. From our hotel, you can reach this fine arts museum in less than 5 minutes on foot.

A permanent collection among the richest in France

The Bonnat-Helleu Museum displays around 1,200 works in its new visitor route, drawn from a collection among the richest in France. This wealth dates back to 1891, when the Bayonne-born painter Léon Bonnat bequeathed his personal collection to the city. The route now showcases several treasures:

• The collection bequeathed by Léon Bonnat brings together paintings by El Greco, Goya, Rubens, Rembrandt, Ingres and Degas.
• The print room holds more than 3,500 drawings signed by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael or Dürer.
• The Louvre Museum has deposited 2,500 works in Bayonne, its largest deposit in France.

Sensitive to light, the drawings are rotated, with a rotation roughly every three months. Each visit thus holds different discoveries!

“Mythologies”, the summer temporary exhibition

From 8 July to 9 November 2026, the museum presents “Mythologies”, its first temporary exhibition since reopening. Created with the Louvre Museum and with the participation of the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, it brings together nearly a hundred works from every continent.

The route sets the figures of Basque mythology — the laminak, the cyclops Tartalo and the basajaunak — in dialogue with Hercules, Ulysses or Raphael's famous Saint George slaying the dragon.

A reference to Roland Barthes, a son of Bayonne, extends the reflection to contemporary myths. This exhibition in Bayonne promises to be the artistic event of the season.

Villa Koegui's tip: for “Mythologies”, opt for the Friday late-night opening, which is quieter, before continuing the evening at the restaurant Le Carré, on the ground floor of the hotel. The museum also offers guided tours and workshops, an ideal format to grasp the connections between Basque mythology and the great universal narratives alongside a guide.

Other exhibitions in Bayonne and the Basque Country

Beyond the fine arts museum, other venues enliven the agenda of exhibitions in Bayonne throughout the year. Here are the events to discover right now and in the coming weeks:

• The DIDAM hosts “Coalition, art, ecology and territories” from 29 May to 13 September 2026, focusing on the international art scene committed to ecological issues, free admission.
• The photography exhibition “Documerica” runs from 4 April to 19 September 2026 and immerses visitors in a major documentary project.
• The Basque Museum and Museum of Bayonne History devotes an exhibition to Wilhelm von Humboldt, who travelled through the Basque Country in 1799, from 10 July 2026 to 10 January 2027.
• The cloister of Sainte-Marie Cathedral celebrates the art crafts from 22 July to 20 August 2026.

Good to know: several of the city's art venues offer free admission, starting with the DIDAM, the art space of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. In the heart of Petit Bayonne, museums, the cathedral cloister and galleries can all be visited on foot, without a car. A single day can thus blend fine arts, documentary photography and contemporary creation, at the city's pace.

Experiencing Bayonne's exhibitions from Villa Koegui

Staying at Villa Koegui, our hotel in the heart of Petit Bayonne, places the finest exhibitions in Bayonne just steps from your room. The Bonnat-Helleu Museum, the Basque Museum and the DIDAM are all within walking distance, in a historic district where art is part of daily life. To turn your visit into a true cultural stay, our team has designed a dedicated offer and remains at your service. From our hotel, you enjoy several advantages for your outings:

• The Bonnat-Helleu Museum is less than 5 minutes away on foot, on rue Jacques-Laffitte.
• Our stay package combines one night, breakfast and admission to the Bonnat-Helleu Museum.
• Our concierge books guided tours and cultural activities in the Basque Country for you.

Our knowledge of the district allows us to share our addresses and the current agenda, so that every visitor can compose their own artistic itinerary.

Want to combine exhibitions and the Basque art of living for a weekend? Book your stay at Villa Koegui and experience Bayonne's exhibitions up close to the works.