Musée Fragonard de l'École vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1766, at the same time as the Royal Veterinary School at Alfort. Claude Bourgelat, founder of the first veterinary schools, built up a “cabinet du Roy” of zoology and comparative anatomy there, fed by the students’ practical work. Honoré Fragonard, the school’s first director and professor of anatomy, prepared the famous écorchés there; they are today the oldest surviving items in the collection. The Revolution disrupted the school and reduced its holdings.

From 1829 the collections were housed in a new building, but they mainly served as a teaching reserve and were not open to the public. Lack of space led the school to create a third cabinet. In 1902 the museum moved to the upper floor of a new building above the dissection rooms, covering over 700 m². It was then used to train students and to present visitors of distinction.

The museum reopened to the public in 1991 and quickly became very popular. A renovation carried out in 2008 restored its 1902 appearance. The route presents more than 4,000 specimens in tall display cases across four rooms: comparative anatomy and teratology, skeletons, pathology, and a cabinet of curiosities with Fragonard’s écorchés.

Highlights

• Animal écorchés prepared by Honoré Fragonard in the 18th century
• More than 4,000 specimens in early 20th-century display cases
• Skeleton room and comparative anatomy collections
• Collections of teratology and veterinary pathology
• Horseshoes, natural history and school memorabilia

Permanent exhibition

• Collections du musée Fragonard – Comparative anatomy, skeletons, pathology, teratology, horseshoes, natural history and Fragonard’s écorchés in a setting dating from 1902.

Founded

1766

Operated by

École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA)

Visitors per year

approx. 9,677

Admission & discounts

The €7 ticket includes the audio guide while stocks last. Free admission, on proof, is also available for members of ICOM and ICOMOS, journalists with a press card (by appointment), holders of the Carte Culture and EU nationals under 26 visiting individually.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on the first floor of the historic Fragonard building and is reachable only by a monumental staircase. The building is not equipped for people with mobility impairments.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

• Family tours & workshops

Visits for school groups and leisure centres from CP onwards. The collections (skeletons, pathologies, malformations) may disturb younger children; the museum asks that visits be adapted for children before CP. The museum is on the first floor and reached only by stairs.

Getting there & parking

The museum is within the grounds of the veterinary school, with a pedestrian entrance at 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle. Access to the campus is limited to authorised persons and vehicles. The website gives driving directions from the A4 and the national roads 19 and 6.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The school has a dedicated page on its website for venue hire and filming.

Plan your visit