Musée de la nature du Valais

About the museum

The Musée de la nature du Valais was founded in 1829 by the Jesuit Father Étienne Elearts under the name Cabinet d’histoire naturelle and officially became a cantonal museum in 1842. It was the first of the Valais cantonal museums. It originally served as a reference collection for teaching at the college and was meant to show the minerals, plants and animals of the Valais as completely as possible, along with regional curiosities.

The presentation has changed greatly since then. In 2013 new exhibition spaces opened in the Galerie de la Grange-à-l’Évêque, which completely reworked the presentation. Since 2014 the museum has been the first natural history museum to devote a room in its permanent exhibition to the Anthropocene; in 2016 a large special exhibition followed, for which it received the Prix Expo of the Swiss Academy of Sciences.

In the galleries, the habitats of the Valais form the backdrop for mammals, birds, insects, plants and minerals. Since 1875 the Valais natural history society La Murithienne has had its seat in the building, and the museum has built up herbaria and a library together with it. Items in the collection include a silicified tree trunk from the Carboniferous, a green fluorite specimen and pillow lavas from a vanished ocean.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “L’Homme et la nature en Valais” on people and nature in the Valais
• Animals, plants and minerals from the habitats of the Valais
• Room on the Anthropocene, the first of its kind in a natural history museum
• Silicified tree trunk from the Carboniferous, green fluorite specimen, pillow lavas
• Interactive stations to touch, hear and smell

Permanent exhibition

• L’Homme et la nature en Valais – The tour shows animals, plants and minerals of the canton, tells how the relationship between humans and the environment has changed, and ends with the Anthropocene.

Founded

1829

Operated by

Musées cantonaux du Valais (Kanton Wallis)

Director

Gil Oliveira

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On the first weekend of every month, admission to the cantonal museums is free.

Payment in cash (Swiss francs) or by credit and debit card; Twint is not accepted. Free admission, among others, with Abobo, AG culturel, Carte Ambassadeurs Valais Wallis, AMS, Carte Culture/Caritas, ICOM, Raiffeisen card, guest card of the Sion tourist information office, Pass bienvenue Sion–Sierre, SBB Museum Pass, Swiss Museum Pass, Passeport-Vacances, Petit Léonard and Swiss Travel Pass; also free for public Valais school classes, daycare groups, media representatives, members of La Murithienne and the Friends of the Museum and of the Alpine Garden. 50 percent discount with the Passeport valaisan, Pass Saint-Bernard, Pass Hérensard, Pass 100% Nax région, Pass Anzère Liberté, guest cards of Chamoson and Saillon, Hôpital du Valais and the Le Nouvelliste subscription card.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

The museum is housed in historic buildings with cobblestones and stairs, so access is difficult for people with reduced mobility; Pro Infirmis provides details. The tour is adapted for people with cognitive impairments, and tailor-made guided tours are also available. Animals are not allowed, except guide dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family activities include the “coin-coin” folding guide for children from age 4, play stations with objects to touch, sounds and scents, as well as children’s birthday parties (escape game from age 10, detective trail from age 9).

Getting there & parking

By car via the A9 motorway, exit Sion-Est. Taxis go as far as Place Maurice Zermatten.

Amenities & dining

• Lockers

Lockers in the museum.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Among other spaces, the courtyard of the Musée de la nature du Valais can be rented; enquiries by email to the cantonal museums.

Plan your visit