A unique heritage to discover
The palaeontological collections of the Musée d'Angoulême are on display in the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution of the Muséum! Did you know that one of the largest dinosaurs known in the world was discovered in this region, Aquitaine?
140 million years ago, northern Aquitaine was covered with marshes, lagoons and watercourses. Since the early 2000s, palaeontological research has revealed, in Charente and Charente-Maritime, fossil ecosystems rich in fauna and flora from the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous.
The Musée d'Angoulême thus houses remarkable palaeontological collections from these discoveries: more than 10,000 identified bones, 70,000 bone fragments and 80,000 microremains (bones smaller than 10 mm), mainly of dinosaurs and crocodiles. It is the finest palaeontological ensemble from the Lower Cretaceous in existence in Europe.
The exhibition
Where can dinosaurs be found? How is a palaeontological excavation site run? And afterwards, with what tools do palaeontologists prepare fossils? How do they study the specimens collected in the laboratory?
While walking through the exhibition Sur les traces des dinosaures, immerse yourself in this vanished environment where crocodiles, turtles, fish, small mammals and herds of dinosaurs lived.
Discover a set of palaeontological sites unique in France, ranging from the Île d'Oléron to Angeac-Charente. Skeletons, a reconstruction of the landscape, a film, all elements for a great journey on the boundary between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous!
(Re)discover specimens from the collections of the Muséum, in resonance with the collections of the Musée d'Angoulême.
Along the way, also admire the illustrations by Pierre Mazan. The comic book author has illustrated, every year since its opening, the behind-the-scenes of the excavations at Angeac-Charente, which has become the largest dinosaur deposit in Europe.
Curation
Project manager and scenographer: Béatrice Abonyi
Scientific curator: Ronan Allain
Illustrator: Mazan
Every day during school holidays (all zones) except Tuesdays.
On Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays outside school holidays.