France Avignon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Museum

Musée Requien

About

Founded in 1835 by naturalist Esprit Requien, the Musée Requien is Avignon’s museum of natural history and one of the most fascinating scientific collections in Provence. Housed in a former mansion near the Palais des Papes, it preserves more than 800,000 specimens ranging from fossils and minerals to plants and zoological collections. The museum reflects Requien’s lifelong passion for botany and geology, offering visitors a journey through the evolution of life and the richness of the natural world. Its displays highlight regional biodiversity alongside global discoveries, making it both a research center and an educational space. Recognized as a Musée de France, the Requien continues to inspire curiosity and wonder, bridging science and heritage in the heart of Avignon. For families, students, and travelers alike, it remains a unique destination where history, nature, and knowledge converge.

Avignon France

Location

Musée Requien is located at 67 Rue Joseph Vernet in the heart of Avignon's historic center, housed in the elegant 17th-century Hôtel de Raphaëlis de Soissans, just steps from the Rhône River and within the pedestrian old town. This natural history museum, part of the Calvet Foundation collections, sits in a vibrant cultural quarter, a brief 10-minute walk from Avignon Centre train station amid charming streets lined with historic buildings. Nearby attractions form a rich cultural hub. The renowned Musée Calvet occupies the adjacent Hôtel de Villeneuve-Martignan at number 65, featuring fine arts and archaeology, while the Musée Lapidaire fills a Baroque Jesuit chapel on nearby Rue de la République. A short stroll leads to Place de l'Horloge with its lively cafés, theaters, and carousel, and uphill paths connect to the Palais des Papes, Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms, and Musée du Petit Palais on Place du Palais, all within Avignon's compact UNESCO-listed core.