Museum of Hunting and Nature

In Paris, the Museum of Hunting and Nature is situated in the historic Marais district. It occupies the Hotel de Guenegaud, built by François Mansart in the middle of the 17th century. The diversity of the contents of the Museum of Hunting and Nature (paintings, artefacts, arms and stuffed animals) makes it a particularly attractive venue, with something for all tastes, in the very fine architectural setting. Hunting and game, alive or dead, have long been a source of inspiration to artists. Three rooms on the first floor display numerous paintings by the most famous 18th and 19th century French painters : Desportes, Chardin, Oudry, Bachelier, Vernet, De Dreux, Corot, etc.

An interesting collection of weapons, of some 150 items, from the 16th to the 19th centuries, is displayed in the arms room.

Finally, three rooms are devoted to African, American and Asian animals : lions, panthers, polar bears, tigers, bison, elk, caribou etc. In the heart of Paris, the originality of these rooms introduces an appealing note of exoticism.

The Museum of Hunting and Nature exhibits a part of its collections at the third floor of the Château de Chambord.