Muséum de l'Ardèche, Paleontology and natural history museum in Balazuc, France.
The Muséum de l'Ardèche covers roughly 5,000 square feet (about 470 square meters) and displays around 600 fossils, with approximately 80 percent sourced from the region, documenting life over the past 500 million years.
Opened in 2016, the museum is built around the collection assembled over four decades by paleontologist Bernard Riou, whose scientific legacy forms the foundation of the institution and its permanent exhibitions.
The site offers simulated excavation workshops, fossil extraction activities, and stargazing evenings, providing hands-on educational experiences for families and school groups interested in paleontology and natural history.
Located about 20 minutes from the Grotte Chauvet 2 replica cave, the museum has parking just 65 feet (20 meters) away, with guided tours available by reservation and extended hours from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. during summer.
Among the displayed specimens are fossils from the La Voulte-sur-Rhône deposit, dating to the Middle Jurassic period, including the oldest known octopus and crustaceans preserved with soft tissues in phosphate-rich black marls.
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