Muséum de Rouen

About the museum

The Muséum was founded in 1828 in the former 17th-century Convent of Sainte-Marie. Originally this “cabinet of natural history” was meant to illustrate the city’s courses in zoology, botany and pharmacy. Under the direction of Félix-Archimède Pouchet, it opened to the general public as early as 1834, a pioneering step at the time.

The collections comprise about 800,000 objects. Many exotic animals came from the menageries of the Saint-Romain fair, whose showmen sold dead animals to the museum, and the port of Rouen also supplied many pieces. The route notably included galleries of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, rooms for paleontology, geology and invertebrates, and dioramas of Normandy wildlife created in the 1960s. The Muséum reopened in February 2007 and describes itself as a “musée de musée” that has kept the spirit of a 19th-century cabinet.

The building is now closed for works. The collections are being processed and packed before transfer to outsourced storage. The Beauvoisine project plans to bring together the Muséum and the Musée des Antiquités in a single natural history and cultural museum, with opening announced for 2028.

Highlights

• Mammal gallery with more than 200 stuffed animals
• Bird gallery with more than 12,000 stuffed specimens
• Fish, reptile and amphibian gallery, including a coelacanth
• Dioramas of Normandy wildlife from the 1960s
• Paleontology, geology and mineralogy collections

Permanent exhibition

• Collections d'histoire naturelle (fermées pour travaux) – Galleries of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, rooms for paleontology, geology and invertebrates, and Normandy dioramas. The galleries remain closed until the planned reopening in 2028.

Founded

1828

Operated by

Réunion des Musées Métropolitains Rouen Normandie (Métropole Rouen Normandie)

Admission & discounts

Opening hours and prices will be announced as the planned 2028 reopening approaches. Meanwhile, the immersive experience “Sensations soleil levant” is offered in the square.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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 Muséum has received the “Tourisme et Handicap” label for motor and intellectual disabilities. Two reserved parking spaces are located at 198 rue Beauvoisine, 10 meters from the main entrance; larger vehicles can park in the museum courtyard. This information applies to the period before closure.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Before closure, the Muséum offered families tours, activities for toddlers, visit-workshops and exhibitions. It is the first natural history museum in France to receive the Môm’Art “Muséum joyeux” label. Workshops are still offered during the works (see the events calendar).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

Opening hours and prices will be announced as the planned 2028 reopening approaches. Meanwhile, the immersive experience “Sensations soleil levant” is offered in the square.

Events & venue rental

Opening hours and prices will be announced as the planned 2028 reopening approaches. Meanwhile, the immersive experience “Sensations soleil levant” is offered in the square.

Plan your visit