June 2026
Sometimes you walk into a museum and say, I could move in here now. The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (The museum of hunting and nature) hit me like that the moment I saw it.
Exhibits focus on the relationships between humans and the natural environment through the traditions and practices of hunting.
What is unique is the contrasting contemporary exhibits. In addition to its permanent collections, the museum regularly presents temporary exhibitions on a variety of themes relating to hunting, nature, and conservation. These exhibitions invite in-depth reflection on contemporary issues related to biodiversity, environmental protection, and the relationship between humans and animals.
The museum has been characterized by the Smithsonian magazine as “one of the most rewarding and inventive in Paris”. And believe me, it is.
The museum was founded in 1964 by wealthy French industrialist rugmaker François Sommer (1904-1973) and his wife Jacqueline, who were avid hunters and conservationists.
The museum includes an array of weaponry from the 16th through to the 19th centuries.
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The museum houses hundreds of trophies and taxidermied animals from Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. These include a polar bear, lion, tiger, cheetah, fox, rhinoceros, bison, water buffalo, and many birds.
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The museum is housed within the Hôtel de Guénégaud (1651-1655), the only private mansion designed by architect François Mansart that still exists. It sits at 62 Rue des Archives.
