Musée d’initiation à la nature, Natural history museum in Saint-Étienne Abbey, Caen, France.
The Musée d'Initiation à la Nature is a natural history museum housed in Saint-Étienne Abbey that presents local wildlife through dioramas. The displays show mammals found in the bocage landscape, birds from towns and cities, and creatures from freshwater lakes and coastal waters.
The museum was established in 1974 within Saint-Étienne Abbey and gained official recognition as a Musée de France in 2003. This designation confirmed its status as a significant cultural institution.
The garden displays regional trees and local plants that reflect the natural character of Normandy. Visitors can wander through plantings that show what grows naturally in the area.
The museum is open from Easter through November on weekdays between 14:00 and 17:30. School groups from the area receive free entry, making it an easy stop to include in a visit.
The museum loans cameras to participants in the KiViLa project, allowing them to photograph and document wildlife in their own gardens. This connects the museum experience with hands-on nature watching in people's own surroundings.
Location: Caen
Official opening: 1974
Address: enceinte de l'Abbaye aux hommes
Opening Hours: easter-November 01: Monday-Friday 14:00-17:30; SH Monday-Friday 14:00-17:30; Wednesday 14:00-17:30
Phone: +33231304327
Website: http://cpievdo.fr
GPS coordinates: 49.18014,-0.37355
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:49
Caen shows everywhere the marks of its past. The castle built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century still rises above the city, while the Abbey of Men and the Abbey of Women reflect the power of the Dukes of Normandy. Saint Pierre Church reaches its Gothic tower to 73 meters, and in the...
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