Musee d'histoire naturelle de Nantes

The museum is one of only a few in France that represents a significant scientific heritage due to its sheer volume of specimens.

There are collections of local wildlife, mineralogy, and zoological specimens, as well as a reptile house containing native and non-native species. In addition to that, it serves as a venue for revolving or temporary exhibits.

Things to do at Musee d'histoire naturelle de Nantes:

• Gain an understanding of the collection's background:

In the 18th century, Francois-Renié Dubuisson, the town's pharmacist, established a private practice that would later become the natural history museum in Nantes, located in the region of Loire-Atlantique.

Since then, it has expanded, and the local government bought it at the beginning of the 19th century.

• Explore the museum's collection of specimens, some of which date back hundreds of years:

This location is currently ranked as one of the best museums in France in terms of the total number of specimens, and it is home to a vivarium that was constructed in the 1950s to display live animals.

It houses one of France's most extensive meteorite collections in addition to a zoology gallery that features a whale skeleton that is over 18 meters long, a collection of minerals, rocks, and fossils; 300,000 herbarium plates; 400 ethnological objects gathered by naturalist travelers; and

Within the collection of taxidermied birds, several specimens are not only fascinating but also quite rare.

• Get yourself psyched up about the prospect of seeing strange animals and their unique adaptations:

One of the rarities is a phenomenon that is so uncommon that it is considered mythical; it is known as the 'Rat King,' and it is a concealed treasure.

According to urban legend, the tails of a group of rats can sometimes become so tangled that they cannot be untangled.

They will spend their entire lives together, even to the point of having their skin welded together, becoming a kind of single monstrous entity reliant on its community to provide its nutritional needs.

The specimens are typically considered hoaxes and part of the field of study known as cryptozoology due to the fact that this phenomenon has not been solved and there is no explanation for it.

• Participate in events and expand your knowledge of zoology at these locations:

In addition to the revolving thematic exhibits that are presented consistently, there are regularly scheduled opportunities to participate in one-on-one or group workshops, guided tours, and other one-of-a-kind occasions.