Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Museum of Natural History of Tours came into being in 1780, the date of its creation, although it was officially inaugurated only in 1828 on the banks of Loire, Place Anatole France. This first building was completely destroyed during a bombardment in June 1940, resulting in the loss of almost all original archives and collections. The reconstruction of the museum began only in the 1980s, with a desire to replenish its scientific background, particularly in zoology (naturalized animals) and paleontology.

In 1982, the City of Tours acquired the former presidial of President Merville Street, a historic building rehabilitated to accommodate the new museum. After extensive work, it opened partially to the public in 1989 with a first temporary exhibition entitled "Gas space". The following years (1990-1991) were devoted to the development of reserves, a specialized library, a workshop and a photographic laboratory, consolidating its scientific and educational missions.

Today, the Museum is distinguished by its paleontological collections, illustrating the fossils characteristic of Touraine, and its zoological specimens, among which are large naturalized mammals (bears, felines, ungulates). Labelled "Musée de France", it perpetuates a scientific heritage marked by successive reconstructions and a vocation to transmit knowledge in the natural sciences.

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