Naturama Aargau

About the museum

The roots of Naturama Aargau go back to 1811, when the Aargau Natural Science Society began collecting animals, plants, fossils and minerals. This collection gave rise to the Aargau Museum of Natural and Local History, where the cantonal school teacher Friedrich Mühlberg served as curator for 49 years. In 1981 it became the Aargau Natural History Museum.

In 2002 today's Naturama Aargau took its place. The Natural Science Society handed over its entire collection to the newly founded Naturama Aargau Foundation, which is the museum's operator. Naturama sees itself as a multi-disciplinary institution: alongside the natural history museum with its exhibitions and collection, it also covers education, nature conservation and climate adaptation.

The collection comprises over 130,000 animals, plants, fossils and minerals, including fossilised dinosaur skeletons from Frick and a rare specimen of the great auk, which was driven to extinction in 1844. The permanent exhibition “Aargauer Zeitreise” (“Aargau Time Journey”) spans three floors, from prehistoric times through today's habitats to the future. There is also an exhibition on adapting to climate change.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition “Aargauer Zeitreise” with dinosaurs and mammoths
• Live animals in the Aargau habitats (around 15 species)
• Great auk – one of only about 80 specimens worldwide
• “Cool down Aargau”: hands-on climate adaptation
• Nature lab for children and Café Friedrich

Permanent exhibitions

• Aargauer Zeitreise – Permanent exhibition across three floors: dinosaurs and mammoths in the basement, today's Aargau habitats with live animals on the ground floor, a look into the future on the upper floor.
• Cool down Aargau – Interactive exhibition on the first floor on adapting to climate change, covering heat islands, drought, greening, the sponge city and cold-air flows.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Stiftung Naturama Aargau

Admission & discounts

KulturLegi: 50% discount. Free admission with the Swiss Museum Pass, for Raiffeisen MemberPlus members with a valid debit or credit card, members of the Naturama Club and the Aargau Natural Science Society, people with residence permit F, S or N, students of the PH FHNW, and companions of people with disabilities. Aargau school and kindergarten classes visit the museum free of charge after their first visit in the current school year on presentation of the receipt (without a guided tour).

Accessibility

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

Assistance dogs are allowed; other dogs must stay outside. Companions of people with disabilities have free admission. In the nearby Bahnhof-Parking there are disabled parking spaces on every level.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Nature lab with 18 drawers to try out, two taxidermy animals to touch, a photo booth for dressing up (CHF 1 per photo), free museum booklets “Auf Spurensuche im Museum” (“Tracking Clues in the Museum”), a digital insect puzzle trail and an AR game. Children's birthday parties for 5- to 10-year-olds (CHF 250 including admission, max. 10 children). Naturama Kids' Club for 5- to 12-year-olds. For daycare groups, the museum recommends a visit from age 4.

Getting there & parking

Site plan as a PDF on the website.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Café Friedrich during museum opening hours with drinks, pastries and snacks (organic and regional, part of Café Surprise). Museum shop with specialist literature, toys, fossils and explorer's equipment. Supervised groups may bring their own food to the roof terrace or the picnic corner in the foyer.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 99 guests.

Mühlbergsaal (up to 99 seats, 95 m²), classroom (up to 25 seats, 80 m²), foyer (up to 70 people for receptions) and roof terrace; available for rent Tuesday to Sunday until 9 p.m. at the latest for conferences, seminars, lectures, workshops and cultural events. The classroom is free of charge for Aargau school classes.

Plan your visit