Musée d’initiation à la nature, Natural history museum in Saint-Étienne Abbey, Caen, France.
The museum displays local wildlife through dioramas featuring mammals from the bocage, birds from urban areas, and species from lakes and coastal regions.
Established in 1974 within the Saint-Étienne Abbey, the institution received official recognition as a 'musée de France' designation in February 2003.
The museum maintains a Norman garden where visitors can examine regional trees, native plants, and geological formations characteristic of Normandy.
The museum opens from Easter to November, Monday through Friday between 14:00 and 17:30, with free admission for local school groups.
The museum lends cameras to participants in the KiViLa project, enabling them to capture and document wildlife activities in their gardens.
Location: Caen
Official opening: 1974
Address: enceinte de l'Abbaye aux hommes 14000 Caen
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: June 23, 2025 14:54
Caen bears traces of its past in every stone. The castle built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century still overlooks the city, while the Abbey of Men and the Abbey of Women testify to the power of the Norman dukes. Saint-Pierre Church rises with its 73-meter Gothic tower, and in the streets of Vaugueux, half-timbered houses recall medieval life. The Caen Memorial tells about World War II and the Normandy Battle, periods that deeply affected the city. Between history and nature, Caen also offers places of rest. The Botanical Garden, created in 1848, houses thousands of plant species within its greenhouses and arboretum. The Park of the Hill of Birds, developed over 17 hectares, features themed gardens and viewpoints over the city. From the Fine Arts Museum located within the castle to the Leroy Tower on the Orne quays, each site invites to discover different periods. Visiting Caen means exploring ten centuries of architecture and events that have shaped Normandy.
Abbey of Saint-Étienne, Caen
179 m
Church of Saint-Étienne-le-Vieux
327 m
St-Étienne de Caen
192 m
Bon Sauveur
331 m
Église Saint-Nicolas de Caen
433 m
Former courthouse of Caen
338 m
Statue of Louis XIV
433 m
Visitation de Caen
174 m
Église Saint-Ouen de Caen
401 m
Ancienne Visitation de Caen
417 m
Artothèque de Caen
161 m
Antique Dealers' Museum
403 m
Église Saint-Martin de Caen
384 m
26 rue Arcisse de Caumont
424 m
Pavillons de l'entrée de la rue Guillaume-le-Conquérant
264 m
15 rue Caponière
235 m
17 rue Caponière
215 m
Hôtel de Girard-Bureau
392 m
25 rue Saint-Martin, Caen
400 m
Hôtel Canteil de Condé
426 m
3 place Fontette, Caen
290 m
10 rue Bicoquet, Caen
375 m
FRAC Normandie Caen
371 m
Chapelle de l'ancienne Visitation de Caen
171 m
Chapelle du Bon Sauveur
348 m
Statue of Léonce Élie de Beaumont in Caen
449 m
Pipe organ in Caen (Calvados, Normandy, France)
192 m
Duke of Berry obelisk
230 mReviews
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