Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Requires €1.1 Billion for Renovation of Aging Estate
Gilles Bloch, the president of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, has emphasized an immediate requirement of €1.1 billion to refurbish its 120 structures, with 74% in need of restoration, as it approaches its 400th anniversary in 2026. An evaluation indicated that over €500 million is necessary for urgent repairs. The Grande Galerie de l'évolution was shut down in January for €10 million in renovations, while the total restoration is projected to cost €100 million. The museum allocates €20 million each year, but only €5 million remains for maintenance after settling a PPP. Bloch advocates for a rise in state funding to a minimum of €30 million annually. Recent upgrades include the Grande Galerie (1994) and Parc zoologique (2014). This article appeared in Le Journal des Arts on April 17, 2026.
Key facts
- The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle requires €1.1 billion for renovations.
- 74% of its 120 buildings, covering 180,000 square meters, need restoration work.
- An initial emergency repair estimate exceeds €500 million.
- The galerie de géologie et de minéralogie and pavillon des reptiles are among long-closed facilities.
- The Grande Galerie de l'évolution closed in January for €10 million in safety upgrades.
- Current annual state investment subsidy is €10 million, with only €5 million available for heritage maintenance after PPP repayments.
- President Gilles Bloch proposes increasing state investment to at least €30 million per year.
- The museum celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Gilles Bloch
- Marion Krauze
- Jean-Christophe Castelain
- Jean-Christophe Domenech
- Bernard Faye
- Tom Hilton
- Christine Coste
- Olympe Lemut
- Henri Matisse
- Károly Ferenczy
Institutions
- Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
- Le Journal des Arts
- direction de l'Immobilier de l'État
- ESRI (Enseignement supérieur, Recherche et Innovation)
- Musée de l'Homme
- Parc zoologique de Paris
- Grande Galerie de l'évolution
- Jardin des plantes
- ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur de la Recherche et de l'Espace
- Direction de l'Immobilier de l'État
- Fondation du patrimoine
- Musée des tissus
- Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Musée Nicéphore-Niépce
- Musée de La Poste
- La Poste
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- France Inter
- Le Monde
- Louvre
- Palais de la découverte
- musée Guimet
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Jardin des plantes
- Buffon campus
- hôtel de Magny
- Bern
- Switzerland
- Lyon
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Chalon-sur-Saône
- 75005 Paris