In Paris’s Marais district, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature explores how people relate to animals through hunting, art and the natural world. Its rooms combine historic weapons and hunting trophies with paintings, sculptures and contemporary works. Taxidermy is part of the collection, so the displays may not suit everyone. Look for the animal-themed wooden cabinets: some have small drawers to open and viewing holes with footage of wildlife. The museum occupies two adjoining 17th-century mansions.
A museum inside two mansions
The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature occupies two adjoining 17th-century mansions in the Marais. Its rooms retain the buildings’ historic layout and proportions, while the displays bring together objects that might otherwise belong to separate collections: weapons, animal specimens, furniture and art.
The subject is hunting, but the museum also examines the wider relationship between people and the natural world. The collection moves between historic practices and contemporary interpretations, so hunting is presented through both its material history and its cultural representations.
Weapons, animals and artworks
The collection is arranged around hunting instruments, the products of hunting, and depictions of wildlife and hunting. Historic weapons sit alongside trophies and taxidermied animals from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Paintings, prints, sculptures, tapestries, ceramics and furniture show how artists have represented animals and hunting across different periods.
Contemporary works appear alongside older objects. This mix gives the rooms an art-gallery quality, even as the displays address hunting traditions and their consequences. The museum does not reduce the subject to equipment alone: animals appear as hunted creatures, artistic subjects and part of the natural environment.
Look inside the animal cabinets
Some of the most hands-on displays are wooden cabinets devoted to animals such as the owl, wolf, boar and stag. Their small drawers reveal details including skulls, droppings and casts of footprints. Viewing holes let you look at footage of animals in the wild through a binocular-like eyepiece.
Take time with these cabinets rather than moving quickly from one room to the next. Their drawers and viewing points reward a closer look, and the objects connect the museum’s historic collections with the animals they depict.
Before your visit
The museum is at 62 Rue des Archives in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement. It has a coat check, restrooms and a restaurant, and wheelchair-accessible entrance and restroom facilities. Assisted listening devices and tours for visitors with visual impairments are listed among its services.
Admission is charged, and booking tickets in advance is recommended. The museum is closed on Mondays and stays open later on Wednesdays than on other listed days. A guided tour can add context to the collection; check the museum’s website for current visit details.
FAQ
Where is the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature?
It is at 62 Rue des Archives in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement, in the Marais district.
What can you see at the museum?
The collection includes hunting weapons, taxidermied animals, trophies and artworks such as paintings, sculptures, prints and furniture. Some animal-themed cabinets have drawers with objects and viewing holes showing wildlife footage.
Is the museum suitable for visitors uncomfortable with taxidermy?
The collection includes taxidermied animals, so it may not suit visitors who would rather avoid those displays.
Should I book tickets in advance?
Advance ticket booking is recommended. Admission is charged.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
The listed facilities include a wheelchair-accessible entrance and restroom.
