Toulouse Museum, Toulouse (must see)

Toulouse Museum (Muséum de Toulouse), or the Natural History Museum of the city of Toulouse, is a distinguished natural history museum located in the Busca-Montplaisir area of Toulouse. Founded in 1796 by the naturalist Philippe-Isidore Picot de Lapeyrouse, the museum was originally housed in a former Carmelite monastery, a gift from Emperor Napoleon to the city in 1808. It was opened to the public in its current location in 1865 under the directorship of Édouard Filhol.

The museum is notable for being the first in the world to introduce a gallery of prehistory, an initiative spearheaded by malacologist Alfred de Candie de Saint-Simon and supported by notable figures like Émile Cartailhac, Jean-Baptiste Noulet, and Eugène Trutat. In 1887, during a world exposition, the botanical gardens of the University of Toulouse were integrated into the museum, further enhancing its educational offerings.

Extensively renovated and expanded in 2008, the designs by architect Jean-Paul Viguier have transformed the museum into a modern space that captivates visitors. With over 3,000 square meters (32,000 square feet) of exhibition space, the museum displays a fraction of its collection of nearly 2.5 million items, with 8,000 objects presented in an interactive format designed to engage a wide range of audiences.

Visitors to the museum can explore a variety of exhibits that encourage interactive learning and engagement with natural history. Highlights include experiencing an earthquake simulator, viewing a wall of skeletons, using microscopes in a lab setting, and participating in educational games and activities. These features are designed to appeal to both seasoned connoisseurs and young explorers alike, making the Toulouse Museum a cornerstone of cultural and scientific education in the region.