Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The collections of the Musée Vert originate from the revolutionary seizures of 1792. They were first exhibited in 1799 at the opening of the Mans Museum, which became a museum of natural history between 1816 and 1856. This mixed museum, with varied activities, marked a key step in preserving the local scientific heritage.

In 1927, the collections were transferred to the Tesse Museum, where they enjoyed a notable growth until 1958. A project carried out in 1995 resulted in the creation of the Green Museum, dedicated exclusively to natural history, and their installation on the current site, an old school of the late 19th century. This move made it possible to value exceptional funds, such as regional grasslands or paleontological collections.

The Musée Vert is distinguished by its scientific richness, including a cabinet of 18th-century curiosities, 19th and 20th-century grasslands, and collections in paleontology, mineralogy, malacology, entomology and ornithology. These ensembles, made up of local naturalists such as Louis Maulny, Édouard Guéranger or Félix de Bourqueney, reflect the evolution of the natural sciences in the region.

Labeled Museum of France, the museum is now located at 204 avenue Jean Jaurès in Le Mans. Its former school building adds an architectural heritage dimension to its scientific vocation. The site also retains geological stratotypes, such as that of the Cenomanian, essential for paleontology research.

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