Musée d'histoire naturelle - Guimet, Natural history museum in 6th district, Lyon, France
The Musée d'histoire naturelle - Guimet is a natural history museum in Lyon housed in a large stone building with classical architecture. The structure features monumental columns and multiple floors designed to showcase exhibitions, all created by architect Jules Chatron.
The industrialist Émile Guimet founded the museum in 1879 to display his personal collection that he had gathered over the years. Later, he relocated the exhibits to Paris because local interest proved limited.
The museum served as a place where visitors could observe fossils and rocks from different regions displayed together. The collections told stories of the natural world through their assembled specimens.
The building is located near Parc de la Tête d'Or at 28 Boulevard des Belges. The structure has been closed to the public since 2007 and is not currently open for visits.
The entrance portal displays the monogram MG carved into stone shields set within the façade. These details serve as a reminder of the building's original purpose as the Guimet Museum.
Location: 6th arrondissement of Lyon
Architects: Jules Chatron
GPS coordinates: 45.77460,4.84818
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
Insectariums and specialized nature centers allow visitors to observe beetles, butterflies and other arthropods at close range. These facilities display living insects in naturalistic settings and maintain scientific collections documenting the anatomy, behavior and ecological functions of different species. Many operate educational programs and research facilities that illustrate the role of insects in ecosystems and their importance to agriculture and human health. This collection includes the Audubon Insectarium in Louisiana, the Montreal Insectarium in Quebec and the Victoria Bug Zoo in British Columbia. Natural history museums such as the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the Tokyo National Museum of Nature and Science and the Australian Museum in Sydney present extensive entomology collections. Additional locations include the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, the Lyon Municipal Museum of Natural History and Insectropolis in New Jersey. Several entries lead to wildlife refuges and parks in Louisiana, including Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge and Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, where visitors can observe insects in their native habitats.
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