Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Lille, Natural history museum in Lille, France
The Musée d'Histoire Naturelle de Lille is a natural history museum housed in a classical building displaying animal specimens, plant collections, minerals, and ethnographic objects. The exhibitions spread across multiple halls where these items are arranged systematically by scientific topics.
The museum was founded in 1816 and evolved from earlier local collecting efforts into an established institution. After more than 180 years, it gained official recognition as a Museum of France in 2003.
The name reflects the museum's role in sharing knowledge about nature and science with the public for generations. Visitors notice this educational purpose in how the objects are arranged and explained throughout the galleries.
The museum is located downtown and easy to reach on foot, with clearly marked entrances. Visitors should know that different exhibition areas may have varying opening times, so checking current information upon arrival is helpful.
The museum experienced a lengthy legal dispute over Brazilian objects representing indigenous heritage in its collection. These items were eventually set to return to their origins, showing how institutions today reconsider their collections.
Location: Lille
Official opening: 1816
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 09:30-17:00; Saturday,Sunday,Holidays 10:00-18:00; Tuesday off; January 01,May 01,July 14,November 01,11 off
Phone: +33328553080
Website: https://mhn.lille.fr
GPS coordinates: 50.62662,3.06670
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:42
Lille offers photographers many locations beyond the main tourist paths. The city shows Art Nouveau buildings, Gothic structures, and former factories now used as cultural spaces. Green areas like the Jardin des Géants and Vauban Garden provide different views of the city. The Old Stock Exchange, the Maison Coilliot with its curved front, and Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral display various architectural styles from different periods. In nearby towns you will find the LaM art museum in Villeneuve-d'Ascq and the Art Deco swimming pool museum in Roubaix. Gare Saint Sauveur is a former train station that now hosts exhibitions and cultural events. Weekly markets like Wazemmes show the colorful rhythms of daily life. The Beffroi de Lille bell tower has shaped the skyline for centuries. Historical museums such as the Comtesse Hospital and the Natural History Museum reveal the region's past. The fortified Citadelle Lille-Citadelle stands as a remnant of Vauban's military engineering and offers wide views across the landscape. Each location tells a different story about how Lille developed over time.
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille
618 m
Belfry of Lille
484 m
Paris Gate
371 m
Hôtel de ville de Lille
536 m
Gare of Lille-Saint-Sauveur
528 m
Maison Coilliot
460 m
Gantois Hospice
540 m
École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers
421 m
Synagogue de Lille
222 m
Église Saint-Michel de Lille
389 m
Parc Jean-Baptiste Lebas
193 m
Bains Lillois
248 m
Église Saint-Sauveur de Lille
683 m
Temple de l'église réformée de France de Lille
240 m
Pavillon Saint-Sauveur
641 m
Fort Saint-Sauveur
462 m
Christ Church Lille
400 m
Bibliothèque de Sciences Po Lille
182 m
Hôtel de Marchiennes
655 m
Maison Folie Moulins
419 m
Hôtel des Postes de Lille
639 m
Musée de l'Institut Pasteur de Lille
583 m
Hôtel des Cariatides
663 m
Equestrian statue of Joan of Arc
145 m
Bazaar St-So
503 m
Monument à Gustave Delory et Roger Salengro
444 m
Immeuble, 13-15-17 rue Fabricy
500 m
Chapelle du Réduit de Lille
461 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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