Musee Requien (Requien Museum), Avignon

The Requien Museum (Muséum Requien) is Avignon’s premier natural history museum, rooted in the legacy of the distinguished naturalist Esprit Requien. Established in 1840, thanks to Requien’s generous donation of his collections, the museum now houses many specimens spanning all areas of life and earth sciences, including geology, paleontology, mineralogy, zoology, and botany. Among its treasures are collections in malacology, ornithology, entomology, mammalogy, herpetology, and a significant botanical assortment, ranging from lichens and algae to “higher” plants.

Esprit Requien, born in 1788 in Avignon, dedicated his life to the natural sciences, especially botany, paleontology, and malacology. At the age of 18, he took charge of the Botanical Garden of Avignon, establishing an important herbarium. His commitment to science and extensive network with prominent scientists of his era led to 75 new species being named in his honor, such as Coilopoceras requienianus and Delphinium requienianus.

The museum’s extensive collections, many of which are owned by the Calvet Foundation, continue to be enhanced by local researchers and scientists, including contributions from notable figures like Jean-Henri Fabre. The museum has been situated in the historic Raphélis Hotel in Soissans since 1943, showcasing the rich fauna and flora of the Vaucluse region from prehistory to the present. The Requien Museum not only serves as a public exhibition space but also supports active research at national and European levels, anchored by its library of 18,000 volumes that provide an invaluable resource for the study of natural species.