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Origin and history

The Natural History Museum of Perpignan is located in the Çagarriga mansion, built in the 16th century. This building, originally owned by the Blanes family, was transferred to the Çagarriga before the French Revolution. In 1793 he housed the Revolutionary Court and was bought by the city in 1900 to install the museum and a school. The hotel retains remarkable architectural elements, such as a 16th century carved window and an 18th century wrought iron ramp, classified in 1964.

The museum collections originated in the cabinet of curiosities created by the University of Perpignan in 1770. In 1835, the Perpignan Philomatic Society recovered these collections to form a Cabinet of Natural History, enriched by donations, including an Egyptian mummy offered in 1847 by Ibrahim Pasha. The city officially purchased the collections in 1840, thus founding the museum, which was transferred to the Hotel Çagarriga in 1900.

The building, transformed over the centuries, underwent major changes at the end of the 19th century, notably with the construction of the École Primaire Supérieure de Garçons (now Collège Jean Moulin) between 1898 and 1901. This period saw the annexation of the hotel's garden and the destruction of the orangery to enlarge the spaces dedicated to the museum. Today, the museum offers various collections in zoology, mineralogy, archaeology and ethnology, as well as a specialized documentation centre.

Hotel Çagarriga has notable architectural features, such as a staircase with a wrought iron ramp decorated with floral motifs and volutes, dating back to the 18th century. The 16th century window, located in the inner courtyard, is decorated with mouldings and a carved shield, reflecting the historic significance of the site. These elements, classified as Historical Monuments, illustrate the evolution of the building, from aristocratic residence to cultural institution.

The museum is now a Museum of France, open to the public with a free entrance. His schedules vary according to the season, and he closes some holidays. The site maintains more than 800 specialized books and journals, accessible by appointment, strengthening its role as a centre for research and dissemination of knowledge in natural history.

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