The Natural History Museum of Toulouse

150 years after its founding, the Museum again opened its doors in 2008 after remaining closed for 10 years while it was undergoing a complete redesign. Now reorganised to reflect the relationship between man, nature and environment, its aim is to be a knowledge sharing institution that imparts its own particular perspective while instilling a sense of wonder and delight in visitors.

The exhibition circuit is designed to arouse curiosity and awareness of the position we occupy on this planet and how we can stay in harmony with it. Each site and every exhibit embody this concept.

Having achieved the Musée de France distinction, the Toulouse Natural History Museum owns impressive collections (2.5 million items), naturalist and ethnological exhibits, as well as living environments visitors can explore in the Henri Gaussen Botanical gardens or in the Museum gardens (3 hectares).

The Toulouse Natural History Museum complies with the ICOM code of ethics concerning acquisition of samples from nature, and by minimising the use of pollutants and energy expenditure in its operation. The buildings of the Museum are a fine example of HEQ compliant architecture. The Museum is an institution of the City of Toulouse. It welcomed 320,000 visitors en 2008.

Services: The Museum is at once an exhibition centre for mediation (8,000 exhibits over a floor area of 3,000 m2 plus the Museum and Botanical gardens) and a showcase of collections for a wide spectrum of research subjects as well as a cultural platform hosting conferences, debates, museum on line and social networks, guest artists, youth events, and partnerships with organisers of scientific, fund raising and cultural events.