Museum der Natur Gotha, Natural history museum in Gotha, Germany
The Museum der Natur occupies the west tower of Friedenstein Palace and displays geological, paleontological, and zoological collections across approximately 1,500 square meters. The exhibition spaces are arranged across multiple levels with a clear organization of the different scientific fields.
The museum was founded in the 17th century by Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. After decades in the Ducal Museum, it relocated to its present location in 2010.
The museum presents four permanent exhibitions about species protection, Thuringian Forest nature, prehistoric reptiles, and insects. Visitors encounter scientific specimens that document regional and global natural diversity.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, with shorter hours during winter months. Children under 16 years old have free admission, making it a family-friendly destination.
The collection includes skeleton plates and footprints of ancient reptiles from a former quarry near Tambach-Dietharz. These fossils rank among the oldest finds of their kind worldwide and offer rare insights into ancient life.
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