Muzoo

About the museum

The museum began in 1845 as a modest collection in the Vieux-Collège with objects from history, art and the natural sciences; the pharmacist Célestin Nicolet was the first curator. It moved to the Rue du Collège in 1870 and to the Collège industriel in 1876, and under Édouard Stébler in 1880 became a proper natural history museum.

The animal park dates back to 1889, when a beautification society acquired the grounds of the Bois du Petit-Château and wanted to make them publicly accessible. After the transfer to the city in 1891, an animal collection was established there, which in 1974 became a zoo with around 600 animals of the regional fauna, both living and extinct species. In 1989 a vivarium with five pavilions was added, and in 1998 the zoo, vivarium and museum were merged administratively as the "Institutions zoologiques".

After a long closure from 2014, the house reopened as Muzoo in the renovated Ancien-Stand building on 17 and 18 December 2022. The permanent exhibition "Plan B" deals with biodiversity and its endangerment, using a deliberately unconventional, playful scenography with little text. In 2025 Muzoo received the Meyvaert Prize for ecological sustainability.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "Plan B" on biodiversity and its threats
• Vivarium with live animals indoors
• Zoo with regional wildlife, free admission, open daily
• Care station for injured wild animals
• Playground and picnic area

Permanent exhibitions

• Plan B – Main permanent exhibition on biodiversity and its threats, deliberately staged in an unconventional way with image and sound and little text.
• Vivarium und Zoo – Vivarium with live animals indoors and a freely accessible zoo with animals of the regional fauna in the park.

Admission & discounts

Free admission: From October to March, free admission to the museum and vivarium on Sundays 10 am–12 noon

Prices apply to the museum and vivarium; the zoo is free (donation boxes in the park).

Accessibility

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

All paths are asphalted, but the main path is quite steep. The toilets in the museum and zoo are adapted. Access is via a ramp at Replat du Dahu 1a (intercom on the left or +41 32 967 65 01); a disabled parking space is located east of the building. Only assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's activities, children's birthday parties (reservation online or on +41 32 967 65 00) and the Dahu Club for families; playground and picnic area. Prams are allowed in the museum, but not in the vivarium.

Getting there & parking

GPS: 47.104950, 6.823730.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Cafeteria (10 am–4:45 pm) with food and drinks and outdoor seating in good weather; picnics in the zoo with your own food are allowed (covered areas for groups on request). Shop with books, games and Muzoo items from responsible sources.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 90 guests.

Three rooms: auditorium (90 seats), "Agitateur" (20) and Salle de Séance (16); breaks, aperitifs or catering with regional providers as well as tours or workshops can be booked in addition.

Plan your visit