The Naturéum is Lausanne’s Cantonal Museum of Natural Sciences, bringing together the botany, geology and zoology of the canton of Vaud. At the Palais de Rumine, you can explore its galleries of minerals, fossils and taxidermy animals, complemented by two botanical gardens.
Natural science museums
Main highlights
- 7 million specimens in botany, geology and zoology, some of them on display at Rumine
- Minerals, meteorites and gemstones in the geology galleries on the third level
- Period museography that preserves the atmosphere of 19th-century cabinets of curiosities
Overview
The first Vaud Cantonal Museum was founded in 1818 to bring together the canton’s heritage items. Its collections later became more specialised, giving rise to three separate museums devoted to botany, geology and zoology, now united under the name Naturéum.
The institution has been housed in the Palais de Rumine since 1906. Its mission covers conservation, research and public outreach. The botanical side can be discovered at the Lausanne Cantonal Botanical Garden, home to around 4,000 species, and at the La Thomasia Alpine Garden in Pont de Nant.
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What to see and do
On the third level, the geology galleries present mineralogy and palaeontology : meteorites, around a hundred minerals, crystals that are sometimes very large, and a collection of gemstones. The palaeontology section displays fossils and reconstructions tracing the evolution of life on Earth.
On the fifth level, the zoology galleries feature taxidermy animals from around the world, including the Siberian tiger, the moose and the polar bear. The display cases bring together mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, in a museography dating from the 19th or even the 18th century.
Temporary exhibitions on biodiversity and the environment complement the permanent collection. The museum also offers guided tours, talks and family workshops. A scientific library is open to the public.
Practical information
Getting there : metro m2, Riponne-M. Béjart stop, or buses 1, 2, 7, 8 and 16 (Rue Neuve, Valentin, Riponne-M. Béjart, Pierre Viret stops).
Visit duration : allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the galleries of the Palais de Rumine.
Accessibility : the museum is partially accessible to people with reduced mobility.
On site : scientific library open to the public.
Visitor tips
The Palais de Rumine also houses the Cantonal Museum of Archaeology and History : plan a half-day to see both institutions.
To round off your visit, head to the Cantonal Botanical Garden in another part of Lausanne. Children particularly enjoy the zoology galleries.
Nearby attractions
- The MCAH Cantonal Museum of Archaeology and History of Lausanne traces fifteen millennia of Vaud history.
- Lausanne Cathedral overlooks the old town and combines medieval architecture with spiritual heritage.
- The Lausanne Botanical Garden brings together botanical collections, educational spaces and walks in the city.
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