Museo de la Naturaleza de Cantabria

About the museum

The Museo de la Naturaleza de Cantabria has been operating since 1990 in Carrejo, near Cabezón de la Sal, and was renovated after almost thirty years of activity. Its purpose is to present nature as heritage that must be preserved and as part of scientific knowledge.

The building is the Casona de Carrejo, a manor house with an 18th-century chapel which, according to the museum's website, was built on the site of an earlier medieval defensive structure. It was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Property of Cultural Interest) in 1984 and belongs to the Fundación Ygareda. In the mid-1980s the interior was restored so that the Government of Cantabria could install the museum there.

The route begins with the origin of the universe and leads to the rooms in Carrejo. It explains how relief, climate, water and human activity have shaped the region and fostered a wide variety of ecosystems: coast, dunes and salt marshes, forests and rivers. The collection brings together Cantabrian birds and mammals, birds from around the world from the Seminario Mayor de Comillas, and taxidermy pieces on loan from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, the work of the Benedito brothers. The visit is completed by artworks inspired by nature, such as the sculpture by Okuda, and a look at rock art. In the garden, five typical Cantabrian forests are recreated.

Highlights

• Route from the origin of the universe to the ecosystems of Cantabria
• Dioramas of cliffs, dunes, salt marshes and forests
• Historic taxidermy by the Benedito brothers (loan from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales)
• Birds from around the world from the Seminario Mayor de Comillas
• Garden with coastal holm oak woodland, rebollar (Pyrenean oak woods), cork oak forest, Atlantic forest and riverside forest
• Casona de Carrejo, Bien de Interés Cultural (Property of Cultural Interest)

Permanent exhibitions

• Exposición permanente: la naturaleza de Cantabria – Rooms explaining the relief, landscape and ecosystems of Cantabria, with fauna dioramas, historic taxidermy and artworks on nature.
• Jardín de los ecosistemas de Cantabria – Five small forests recreated outdoors: coastal holm oak woodland, rebollar (Pyrenean oak woods), cork oak forest, Atlantic forest and riverside forest.

Founded

1990

Operated by

Gobierno de Cantabria (Consejería de Cultura, Turismo y Deporte)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Admission is free on Sundays.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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 website states that the museum has adapted access, a lift and a toilet adapted for people with disabilities.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Carrejo, about 2 km from the Autovía del Cantábrico, next to Cabezón de la Sal.

Amenities & dining

Reference library on natural sciences, especially of Cantabria, for consultation on site (no lending service). Multipurpose room in the former chapel, with videos on the flora and fauna of the region.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit