Musée du Gévaudan

About the museum

The Musée du Gévaudan has a long history behind it. Mende’s first museum was born in 1836 from a cabinet of curiosities of the Société d’agriculture, industrie, sciences et arts de la Lozère, housed in the Maison consulaire. It moved in 1857, then in 1976 to the mansion of the Buisson de Ressouches family, under the name Musée Ignon-Fabre. It closed in 1994. The town of Mende then drove the renewal project; after works from 2020 to 2022, the Musée du Gévaudan opened to the public on October 18, 2022.

The heart of the building is a mansion, protected as a historic monument. In the 14th century it was the residence of Bishop Virgile Bompar; today it bears the name of Antoine de Buisson, lord of Ressouches, its owner in the 17th century. Its door, dated 1665, and its monumental stone staircase are remarkable.

On the first floor are spaces for discovering the region, in partnership with the Pays d’art et d’histoire Mende, Gévaudan et Mont-Lozère, whose interpretation centre for architecture and heritage is housed in the museum. On the second floor, the permanent exhibition presents very varied collections: fine arts, history, archaeology, ethnology and natural history, from the earliest times to the 21st century. The third floor is reserved for temporary exhibitions. The museum holds the designation “Musée de France” and also includes a shop, a café, a lounge with a book and game swap, and a seed library (grainothèque).

Highlights

• Mansion with a 1665 door and monumental staircase
• Permanent exhibition: fine arts, archaeology, ethnology and natural history
• Collection devoted to the Beast of Gévaudan
• Prost herbarium
• Interpretation centre of the Pays d’art et d’histoire
• Café, shop, lounge and seed library

Permanent exhibitions

• Exposition permanente des collections – Collections of fine arts, history, archaeology, ethnology and natural history, from the earliest times to the 21st century.
• Espaces de découverte du territoire – Playful spaces on the first floor, in partnership with the Pays d’art et d’histoire, with an exhibition on paths and routes of communication.

Founded

2022

Operated by

Ville de Mende

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the permanent exhibitions is free all year round. Temporary exhibitions are charged; they are free for children under 6, recipients of social minimum benefits (minima sociaux) and museum partners.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entire museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The nearest accessible parking spaces are in the Parking du Mazel, 120 m from the museum. Only assistance dogs are admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The events calendar lists tours reserved for children, workshop tours, a writing workshop and holiday activities.

Getting there & parking

From Lyon: N 88 via Saint-Étienne and Le Puy-en-Velay. From Montpellier or Clermont-Ferrand: A 75, exit 39.1 Mende / Chanac / Florac.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The museum has a shop, a café, a lounge with a book and game swap, and a seed library for exchanging local seeds.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The museum can be rented as a whole, on the ground floor only, or for its workshops and equipped meeting rooms, for example for a seminar, an after-work event or a meeting. Rates are provided on request.

Plan your visit