Muséum d'Orléans pour la biodiversité et l'environnement

Over het museum

The Muséum d'Orléans opened in 1823 as a natural history cabinet housed in the Hôtel des Créneaux, in the city center. In the 1940s, the curator Paul Sougy changed the presentation of the collections, arranging them by the functions of living things, and introduced the first temporary exhibitions and the first aquariums.

In 1966 a new building was completed on rue Marcel-Proust, near the railway station. A large extension was added at the end of the 1980s, and the museum became the Muséum des sciences naturelles. It was given the “Musée de France” label in 2002. Closed in 2015 for a complete renovation, it reopened on May 19, 2021 under the name Muséum d'Orléans pour la biodiversité et l'environnement, known as MOBE.

The route unfolds over several floors in a deliberately dark atmosphere that protects the specimens. The second floor (the Plateau) hosts temporary displays and tells the museum's history. The third floor explains how living things function and evolve, and the fourth covers the history of the Centre-Val de Loire region's landscapes and habitats. The fifth floor houses the 4Tiers, a space for debate with a games library and café, as well as a vertical greenhouse.

The collections comprise several hundred thousand specimens: insects, herbaria, stuffed animals, fossils, rocks and minerals, as well as archaeological and ethnological objects. Less than 1% is on display; the rest serves scientific research. Since October 1, 2026, admission to the permanent route has been free.

Hoogtepunten

• Dodo skeleton assembled from several individuals
• 180-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil
• Route on the evolution of living things and the history of the region's landscapes
• The 4Tiers: debate space, games library and vertical greenhouse
• Open-access library and shop

Vaste collectie

• Mécaniques du vivant (2e étage) – Multimedia exhibition on how living things function and evolve, from DNA to large animals.
• Paysages (3e étage) – Immersive route on the formation of the landscapes and habitats of the Centre-Val de Loire region, from prehistory to today.
• Le 4Tiers (4e étage) – A hybrid space between museum and forum: debate, games, reading, games library, café and vertical greenhouse.

Opgericht

1823

Beheerder

Ville d'Orléans

Directie

Laure Danilo

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Since October 1, the permanent route, workshops, lectures and events have been free; only major temporary exhibitions are paid. The Pass musées no longer applies to MOBE. The ticket is valid all day from 10:00 to 18:00. Payment by card, chèques-vacances and cash.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

External ramp and lifts to the four floors and the lecture rooms. Tactile guide lines for visually impaired visitors, soundscapes, models and touchable objects. Wheelchairs, stick seats and an induction loop are available, along with a dedicated welcome desk. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

Activities and workshops for different ages, science storytelling for ages 0 to 3, a children's area, changing table, bottle warmers, games library on the fifth floor and discovery games for the whole family. The museum is happy to accept children's noise.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

From the A10, take the Orléans-centre exit, then head towards the Bourgogne district and the historic center. Orléans station is about 600 meters away, a 5-minute walk. Bike storage and racks are nearby, and a self-service bike station is less than 5 minutes away.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe
• Kluisjes
• Wifi

Café with terrace on the fifth floor: food and drink are provided there to protect the collections. Shop on the first floor, individual lockers, cloakroom for groups, bicycle storage and Wi-Fi.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur

MOBE's spaces (lecture halls, meeting rooms, café area) can be booked via an online form.

Je bezoek plannen