Museo de Paleontología de Castilla-La Mancha

About the museum

The Museo de Paleontología de Castilla–La Mancha was established by decree on 20 March 2015 and opened its first phase on 23 March of that year under the name “Tierra de Dinosaurios”, with around 200 pieces and twenty full-size reproductions. In December 2015 a second phase was inaugurated with fossils from the Las Hoyas and Lo Hueco sites.

On 10 January 2018 a third phase was presented, a major remodelling after which the centre adopted the name MUPA. The museum was conceived in four phases in total. The building, designed by the architects Carlos Asensio, José María de la Puerta and Paloma Campo, was constructed between 2000 and 2010 and originally housed the Ars Natura interpretation centre. It has three floors surrounded by ponds and gardens, with a 334-seat assembly hall, a café and a restaurant.

More than 95% of the pieces on display are originals, many of them holotypes, such as Iberomesornis, Concornis, Pelecanimimus, Concavenator or Lohuecotitán. The route includes a Palaeozoic room with a 13-metre LED screen, an immersive room on the Early Cretaceous ecosystem of Las Hoyas, transparent screens with 3D reconstructions, an augmented reality app, audio guides by QR code and a treasure hunt. Outdoors there are replicas, gardens and a themed children’s playground.

Highlights

• More than 95% original pieces, many of them holotypes
• Fossils from Las Hoyas and Lo Hueco: Concavenator, Lohuecotitán, Pelecanimimus
• Immersive room on the Las Hoyas ecosystem
• Augmented reality app and audio guides by QR code
• Full-size replicas, gardens and a themed children’s playground

Permanent exhibition

• Tierra de Dinosaurios – Permanent collection with original fossils from Las Hoyas and Lo Hueco, immersive rooms with LED screens and full-size dinosaur replicas.

Founded

2015

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every Wednesday of the year, 18 May (International Museum Day) and 31 May (Castilla–La Mancha Day).

Card payment is accepted. Admission is also free for unemployed people, teaching staff, official tour guides, journalists and researchers with authorisation, workers in museums, archives and libraries, and victims of gender-based violence and their children, with accreditation. Private visit with the museum closed: €400 (2 hours).

Accessibility

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

Lifts, ramps and platforms in all public areas and accessible toilets on every floor, with a baby-changing facility. Free loan of wheelchairs. Guide dogs and therapy animals are admitted with accreditation.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Workshops for children aged 3 to 12 (“Paleontólogo por un día”, with simulated excavation), family film sessions, a treasure hunt in the museum app and a themed children’s playground outside.

Getting there & parking

Satnav may lead you through the narrow streets of the Los Tiradores district, which end at a pedestrian gate; in that case go around the museum fence until you reach the car park. By road from Madrid (A-40), Valencia (N-320) or Alcázar de San Juan (N-400), the museum is signposted.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Café and restaurant in the building, and a gift shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 334 guests.

Assembly hall of 334 seats with video projectors and sound equipment. Enquiries about hiring spaces: reservas.espacios.mupa@jccm.es.

Plan your visit