Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Nice

About the museum

The Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Nice opened to the public in 1846 and became the city’s first municipal museum. It was first housed in the old town, on Place Saint-François, on the initiative of Antoine Risso. Jean-Baptiste Vérany built up the first major series of birds, molluscs, minerals and fossils there.

The Nice naturalist Jean-Baptiste Barla, for his part, assembled a private collection focused mainly on fish, flowering plants and fungi. In 1863, he took in the Vérany collection in his own premises, on the site of the present museum. In 1896, the building was bequeathed to the City along with the collections and the library.

The museum, which holds the “Musée de France” label, today keeps more than a million specimens in botany, zoology and geology. It has been closed for renovation since April 1, 2025, and is preparing a new permanent display, “Des profondeurs au sommet”, which presents thirteen local ecosystems. The redevelopment also provides for a new entrance hall with a shop and cloakroom, an education area for school groups and a teaching garden.

Highlights

• More than a million specimens in botany, zoology and geology
• New permanent display “Des profondeurs au sommet” on thirteen local ecosystems
• Collections online and open to all
• Guided tours, activities and lectures
• Education area and teaching garden for school groups

Permanent exhibition

• Des profondeurs au sommet – New permanent display, a “naturalist promenade”, presenting thirteen local ecosystems, from the seabed to the mountain summits.

Founded

1846

Operated by

Ville de Nice

Admission & discounts

Free on proof for under-18s, students, job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, holders of the Carte mobilité inclusion, teachers with the Pass Éducation, tour guides, journalists, employees of the City, the Métropole and the CCAS, and members of museum friends’ associations. The Pass Musées de Nice is free for residents of the Métropole aged over 18 (valid for three years).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• 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 redevelopment project provides for accessibility of all spaces for people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

A cycle route via Géovélo is suggested on the museum’s page.

Amenities & dining

The new entrance hall is to include a reception desk, a shop and a cloakroom.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit