Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Museum of Natural History of Chambéry was founded in 1846 under the leadership of King Charles-Albert of Piémont-Sardaigne, two years after the creation of the Société d'histoire naturel de la Savoie (SHNS). This project is born from the will of three enthusiasts: Marquis Pantaléon Costa de Beauregard (ornithologist), Félix Genin (entomologist) and Canon François Chamousset (geologist and botanist), who unite their collections to create a space dedicated to the natural sciences. Society, open to the local bourgeoisie in contrast to the Savoy Academy, grew rapidly from 57 members in 1844 to over 150 in 1850.

The museum is housed in the old gardener's house of the Dukes of Savoy Castle, accompanied by a lower part of the royal gardens transformed into a botanical and zoological garden. It housed local species such as a lynx, an eagle, marmots and a chamois. In 1849, the museum already structured 22 scientific sections, ranging from mineralogy to comparative anatomy. The opening to the public occurred in 1850, marked by the publication of the Society's first Bulletin, while donations flowed, enriching the collections of fossils, insects and rare specimens as a bearded gypae of Maurienne.

The site, located south of Chambéry at the foot of the Chartreuse massif, underwent modifications under Napoleon III, which had the Cavalière gangway traced, partially reducing the original garden. Today, the museum preserves 120,000 specimens (animals, minerals, fossils) and a "smelling garden" accessible to the public. Managed by the SHNS and about 10 volunteers, it welcomes between 4,000 and 7,000 visitors annually, despite limited resources. In 2003, he obtained the national label Musée de France, recognizing the value of his collections and his scientific heritage.

The Savoy Society of Natural History, at the origin of the museum, also tried other cultural initiatives, such as the Savoy Society of History and Archaeology, founded in 1855 by former members including François Rabut. The SHNS still publishes a quarterly newsletter and remains a key player in the dissemination of natural knowledge in Savoie, despite modest financial support from local authorities.

The location of the museum, close to the old National Route 6 (now Avenue de Lyon), reflects its historical anchor in the exchanges between France and Italy. The building, integrated in the vicinity of the Château des Ducs, symbolizes the link between architectural and scientific heritage, while its garden, preserved despite 19th century developments, offers a unique educational space in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

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