Muséum d'histoire naturelle du Havre

The Muséum d'histoire naturelle du Havre is a natural history museum housed in a classical stone building with multiple exhibition halls displaying paleontology, zoology, and botany collections. The galleries contain fossils, preserved animal specimens, and plant materials that illustrate the diversity of the natural world.

The museum was founded in 1881 based on collections assembled by director Charles Alexandre Lesueur, a prominent regional naturalist. The building itself dates to 1760 and was originally designed as a courthouse before being converted to house the museum.

The museum holds a remarkable collection of drawings and handwritten notes from naturalists alongside preserved specimens, showing how scientists once documented their discoveries. This material reveals the personal methods researchers used to study and record the natural world.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and offers free entry to visitors under 26 years old. The permanent collections are spread across multiple levels, so plan enough time to explore the different exhibition areas comfortably.

The building features a distinctive monumental staircase decorated with carved triangular pediments that comes from its original function as a courthouse. These architectural details still reflect the building's former legal purpose.