Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona

About the museum

The Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona occupies a building designed by Herzog & de Meuron in the Parc del Fòrum, by the sea and the Besòs river. It was completed in 2004, and the museum opened it to the public in March 2011. It covers about 9,000 square metres over two floors, arranged around a free-access foyer from which all programmes and services start.

The institution was founded in 2000 by merging the Martorell Museum, devoted to geology and housed since 1882 in a building in the Ciutadella park, with the Museum of Zoology. Part of the geology collections on display at the Fòrum comes from the Martorell Museum, while most of the reserve collections remain in the historic building.

The permanent exhibition “Planeta Vida” presents the museum's holdings, including minerals, rocks, plants, animals, fungi, microbes and algae, with interactive tables, classification panels and models. The museum also has a media library, the Niu de Ciència (a space for children aged 0 to 6), classrooms, workshops, the Ramon Margalef auditorium and a living roof terrace.

The museum also manages other spaces in the city: the Jardí Botànic de Barcelona and the Jardí Botànic Històric on Montjuïc, and the Centre Martorell d'Exposicions and the Hivernacle greenhouse in the Ciutadella park.

Highlights

• Herzog & de Meuron building in the Parc del Fòrum
• Permanent exhibition “Planeta Vida”
• Around 50 touchable pieces with raised relief and Braille
• Niu de Ciència for children aged 0 to 6
• Living roof terrace of the museum

Permanent exhibition

• Planeta Vida – Permanent exhibition of the museum's holdings: rocks, minerals, plants, animals, fungi, microbes and algae, presented with interactive tables, classification panels and models.

Founded

1882

Operated by

Ajuntament de Barcelona

Director

Carles Lalueza Fox

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of each month all day, and every Sunday from 15:00.

Free admission also for members of ICOM and the Associació de Museòlegs de Catalunya, working tourist guides, accredited teachers, journalists, holders of the free Pink Card, the BCN Card or the Gaudir Més Barcelona registration, and heritage donors. For individual visits, a second visit to the permanent exhibitions within six months of the first is free (with the ticket validated).

Accessibility

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

Wheelchairs are lent, and the ticket desks have an area adapted for wheelchair users and people of short stature. Lift and accessible toilets. Induction loop at the information point and in the lecture hall. Raised-relief and Braille map beside the information point, raised-relief and Braille signage, around 50 pieces and models that can be touched, with raised-line diagrams and large-print or Braille texts, large-print and Braille leaflets, and a tactile paving route from the main entrance. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are admitted in all areas. People with reduced mobility and their companions have priority in queues.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum has the Niu de Ciència, a space for children aged 0 to 6, as well as activities and the living roof terrace. Families with children under 16 have reduced admission, and children under 16 enter free.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

At reception there are cages for storing folding bicycles; the museum has no lockers for items larger than 100 × 40 × 50 cm.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit