The Fribourg Natural History Museum showcases the natural heritage of Fribourg and the world, from mineralogy to wildlife. Founded in 1823 in the Pérolles district, it displays a mounted whale, a sperm whale skeleton and Swiss meteorites.
Natural science museums
Main highlights
- A mounted whale and a complete sperm whale skeleton, the museum’s centrepieces
- Ten themed galleries covering mineralogy, geology, palaeontology and wildlife
- A care station that takes in injured or sick small wild animals
Overview
Founded in 1823, the Fribourg Natural History Museum (MHNF) is one of the oldest cultural institutions in the State of Fribourg. It occupies a building in the Pérolles district, close to the university campus and the Botanic Garden.
The museum holds more than 250,000 items in zoology, earth sciences, botany and mycology, of which only a selection is on display. It catalogues its collections, carries out research, prepares exhibitions and raises public awareness of natural heritage through a variety of educational approaches.
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What to see and do
The permanent exhibition spans ten galleries on two levels. The first floor is devoted to the earth sciences : minerals from around the world, the history of the Earth and the evolution of life, and geology and palaeontology with fossils. Swiss and Fribourg meteorites are among the highlights.
The regional wildlife section presents the animals of the area through dioramas and educational activities. The large gallery of the world’s vertebrates brings together many mounted animals, including the whale and the complete sperm whale skeleton, which delight visitors of all ages.
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions on natural science themes such as Fribourg’s biodiversity, fungi, animal tracks and herbaria. It also runs a care station for injured or sick small wild animals.
Practical information
Getting there : TPF bus, Charmettes stop. About a 15-minute walk from the SBB railway station. By car, A1 motorway, Fribourg Sud exit.
Accessibility : a ramp and a lift provide wheelchair access to most galleries. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome.
Visit duration : one and a half to two hours for the permanent exhibition.
On site : the University cafeteria opposite the museum, and picnic tables in the neighbouring Botanic Garden.
Visitor tips
With children, focus on the wildlife galleries : the dioramas, educational activities and large mounted animals hold their attention.
In fine weather, extend your outing with a picnic in the adjacent Botanic Garden or a walk to the nearby Lac de Pérolles nature reserve.
Nearby attractions
- The University of Fribourg Botanic Garden features 5,000 plant species across 1.8 hectares.
- The Fribourg Museum of Art and History, founded in 1774, documents the cultural history of the canton.
- St. Nicholas Cathedral in Fribourg, built in the Flamboyant Gothic style, has a 74 m tower.
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