Muséum d'histoire naturelle du Havre

About the museum

The Muséum d’histoire naturelle du Havre originates in gifts from the naturalist Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, who entrusted part of his collections to the city in 1838. Natural history galleries opened as early as 1855 in the Musée-Bibliothèque, and the collections were later enriched with drawings and notes from the scientific voyages of Péron and Lesueur.

The museum moved into the former law courts, built between 1758 and 1760; the building officially became the Muséum on April 24, 1881. In September 1944, bombing destroyed most of the collections, the south wing, the roof and the floors. Thanks to a partial listing of the west façade and the staircase, the building escaped demolition during the reconstruction of the city by Auguste Perret’s team, and the museum reopened to the public in 1973.

After several renovation phases, the museum closed in 2022 for a major rehabilitation. It reopened in 2025, fully renovated and more accessible. The route presents minerals, fossils, stuffed animals, objects from around the world and natural history drawings.

Highlights

• 18th-century building, former law courts, in the city rebuilt by Perret
• Minerals gallery and hominids gallery
• Sensory room “La Forêt normande” for toddlers
• Natural history drawings by Charles-Alexandre Lesueur
• Sensory modules accessible to all

Permanent exhibitions

• Galerie des minéraux – Display of rocks and minerals from the museum’s collections.
• Galerie des hominidés – A route devoted to human evolution and the earliest hominids.
• La Forêt normande – An immersive, sensory room for children aged 3 to 5.

Founded

1881

Operated by

Ville du Havre

Visitors per year

approx. 65,355

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Saturday of the month

Full price €5 and reduced rate €3 when part of the museum is closed, for example during exhibition installation. Admission is also free for job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, holders of the ICOM, ICOMOS or Culture cards and the Pass Muséo, teachers with an educational project, journalists and tour guides. Temporary exhibitions are included in the ticket. Tickets are available online with a time slot or at the reception desk. The PASS Tourisme Le Havre – Étretat (April to October) also grants access to the museum.

Accessibility

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

The entire museum is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. The route includes sensory modules and adapted texts. Workshops and tours can be adapted on request; a visit-preparation booklet is available to download.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Family natural science workshops from age 2–3 depending on the activity, based on touch, observation and listening. Discovery notebooks for ages 4–6 and 7–12. The “La Forêt normande” room offers sensory activities for ages 3–5. Accessible restrooms with a changing table.

Getting there & parking

On foot: about 13 minutes from the Hôtel de Ville and 20 minutes from the SNCF station. By bike: 120 meters from La Vélomaritime and 850 meters from La Seine à vélo. By train from Paris Saint-Lazare.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi, free cloakroom, a reading mezzanine for relaxing, and a shop with books, games and souvenirs inspired by the collections.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit