musée du Léman
Museum on the Nyon waterfront showing nature and human history of Lake Geneva, with aquaria, boats, and the tsunami story.
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About the museum
The Musée du Léman was founded in 1954 at the initiative of Vaud archaeologist Edgar Pélichet. It began with three small rooms on fishing, shipping, and birds in the former hospital of Nyon, built between 1756 and 1758. After Pélichet's retirement, closure threatened in 1968; however, citizens and associations advocated for the lake and its museum, and from 1975 it reopened under the name Maison du Léman with an interdisciplinary approach.
In 1985, Western Switzerland's largest aquaria were added, the building was modernized and significantly expanded. Since 1989, the museum has been run professionally by the City of Nyon and has since expanded its collection, research, and documentation center. Significant bequests such as archives of the Piccard research family and the CGN shipping company, historic boats, and a swimming mast from the 1930s, which was recovered from the lake, are part of the holdings; the collection has been considered nationally significant since 2021.
The permanent exhibition shows, across approximately 1,000 square meters, distributed over 14 rooms and three floors, the geology and fauna of the lake, fishing, sailing and steamship transportation, the tsunami of 563, and the Piccard research efforts. Five aquaria represent the lake's habitats from shore to depth. An expansion and renovation project with an additional boat hall is planned.
Highlights
- Five aquaria with fish and habitats of Lake Geneva
- Permanent exhibition on three floors with approximately 1,000 objects
- Steamship transportation, paddle steamers, and CGN archive
- History of the Tauredunum tsunami from 563
- Historic boats and Piccard archives
- Cafeteria with lake view
Permanent exhibitions
- Dauerausstellung zum Genfersee – On three floors and in 14 rooms: tsunamis, natural sciences, fauna and flora, fishing, sailing and steamship transportation, rescue services, and the research efforts of the Piccard family.
- Aquarien – Five basins with more than 40,000 liters of water show fish and crustaceans from the lake's habitats from the shore to the depths.
- Founded
- 1954
- Operated by
- Stadt Nyon
- Visitors per year
- approx. 21,600
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 8AHV (from age 65), students (from age 16), unemployed, and disability beneficiaries |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Children and young people under 16 free. |
| Seniors | CHF 8AHV beneficiaries from age 65 |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 8People with disabilities pay reduced admission. |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 8Students from age 16 |
| Groups (10+ people) | CHF 8 per personGroup rate from 10 people. Public schools and day care centers (UAPE) from Nyon have free admission and free animations. |
| Guided tour for groups (up to 24 people), 1 hour | CHF 120In addition to admission; 1.5 hours CHF 150, 2 hours CHF 180 |
| Educational animation for school classes (up to 24 children) | CHF 120By reservation only; one companion per 12 children |
Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month as well as January 1, 2, and 3
With one ticket, a free visit to the Roman Museum and Château de Nyon is possible once (valid 12 months).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- 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
Access for people with limited mobility via reserved door on the right in the yard (ring bell). The building has a lifting platform and elevator, making the entire museum accessible. A disabled parking space is located approximately 50 meters away. All Nyon transport buses (TPN) have ramps. Pets not allowed in the museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
Children under 16 have free admission. Workshops from age 4 ("Feuille-caillou-ciseaux" on the first Wednesdays of the month), nature science Sundays from age 8, "Coulisses des aquariums" from age 8, vacation programs, and children's birthdays. Playgrounds and covered picnic area nearby.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Musée du Léman · 70 m
Bus 803 toward Nyon, Colovray to "Musée du Léman"; from Nyon SBB station approximately 10–15 minutes walk; CGN shipping company dock 5–10 minutes walk.
By car
Parking available · 2-min walk to the entrance
Parking La Duche, approximately 2 minutes walk; one disabled parking space about 50 meters from the museum. Space for coaches available.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
Cafeteria with lake view for drinks and short breaks.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A free overview plan is available at the start. Tours in French and English, other languages upon request, only by advance registration; also tours in LPC (Langage Parlé Complété). In summer, boat trips on museum boat GILLIATT (Sundays May–September 2026, from age 8, not wheelchair accessible). |
