There are several 🧬 BIG SCIENCE EVENTS that occur regularly 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond, and we have the annual 🧪 La Fête de la Science in autumn !

• 🧪 La Fête de la Science – in October (annual);
• 🧪 La Nuit des Sciences – every two years in Geneva;
• 🧪 CERN Open Days – every few years, the CERN opens to the public;

This got me thinking about all of the 🧬 science events, activities, workshops, and museums that surround us 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc!

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Colour Code for listings

Pays du Mont-Blanc

Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, Argentière, Les Houches, Servoz & environs) and Vallorcine

Passy & environs

Sallanches, Combloux, Cordon & Domancy

St Gervais, Le Fayet & environs

Megève, Praz-sur-Arly & environs

Les Contamines & environs

🇫🇷 Further France 

🇨🇭 Switzerland 

🇮🇹 Italy 

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A little history of science in our mountain valleys

What really put this little corner of the world ( 🏔 Chamonix Valley and the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc ) on the 🗺 world map, was the 📚 Romantic writers’ and artists’ 🏔 re-telling of mountains and glaciers in the 18th century ( no longer were mountains seen as the work of the devil; but rather, as something to admire, visit, paint and write about! ), which drew scientists ( Dr Paccard, Saussure and more . . . ), geologists, mountaineers and tourists to these once-remote mountain valleys! And 🧬 science also paved the way for all of these numerous different “. . . ‘ologists ” to come and study the mountains: the advent of the 🚂 railway and then 🚙 roads, viaducts, tunnels and cars; all were made possible through scientific advances!

And 🧪 SCIENCE is still everywhere we look, walk, climb, bike and ski 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc:

• ❄️ glaciology and receding glaciers (and, of course, climate change);
• 🌳 botany;
• 🦌 zoology ( the 🦅 gypaète barbu reproduction centre, for example ), the work of ASTERS and the Réserves Nationales . . .
• 💎 the study of crystals . . .

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SCIENCE EVENTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

Fête de la Science

The aim of this event is to familiarise the public with science, in order to better understand our surrounding environment and climate change.

There are plenty of 🧪 events and workshops scheduled in Haute-Savoie and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) for the Fête de la Science : exhibitions, site visits, guided visits, workshops, spectacles, concerts . . .

[ ⇒ more information: website and full Haute-Savoie programme ]

Here, 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, there are several events planned . . .

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La Nuit de la Science (Musée d’histoire des science & Parc de la Perle du Lac, Geneva)

🧬 La Nuit de la Science takes place every TWO years (last edition in 2022!) . . .

website & FB page

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CERN Open Days

At the CERN, scientists work hard to recreate 💫 the Big Bang, to try to understand 🌏🪐 the origins of our universe and what came after the bang!

” Every few years, the CERN opens its doors to the public for two special days, at the heart of one of the world’s largest particle-physics laboratories! The CERN Open Days have become a regular feature of the period that we call the “ long shutdown ” during which our accelerators stop for around two years, to benefit from upgrades and renovation work. The Open Days will give visitors the chance to discover our facilities, both underground and on the surface. With free admission to debates, film screenings, theatre performances, experimental workshops and dozens of visit points spread all over the site, we will take you to the heart of our Laboratory, in direct contact with the science of today and tomorrow. ”

good to know: you can also take a guided visit of the CERN, FREE of charge, Monday to Saturday (12+ years), anytime of the year! / ⇒ see here;

also good to know: to learn more about the CERN and the universe, CERN has created 💻 CERN online;

website & FB page

address: CERN, esplanade des Particules 1, 1217, Meyrin, Switzerland;

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SCIENCE MUSEUMS & ACTIVITIES au Pays du Mont-Blanc

Musée Alpin (Chamonix)

[ note: the Musée Alpin is currently SHUT for a long 4 year renovation project . . . the museum is being modernised and extended, and the new museum to open will be called the Musée du Mont-Blanc ! During its closure, the museum staff will continue to offer Hors les Murs sessions for the public / ⇒ see website for more details ]

Housed in the magnificent old Chamonix Palace (one of the three original “palaces” in Chamonix), this lovely museum traces the history of the valley, from the very first tourists who came to admire the mountains and glaciers through to “Chamonix the centre of winter sports”.  There is a great collection of prints, photos and mountaineering objects to take you on this trajectory – plenty of science! 

address: La Résidence, 89 avenue Michel Croz, 74400, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc / tel: +33 (0)4 50 53 25 

parking: the nearest car park (paying) is the Parking du Mont-Blanc

Musée des Cristaux – Espace Tairraz (Chamonix)

This NEWLY renovated museum offers you “ un voyage à travers la minéralogie du monde . . . Réaménagé en 2021, le musée des Cristaux présente une scénographie renouvelée, consacrée à la minéralogie alpine, de France, d’Europe et à présent du Monde ! Venez découvrir des collections exceptionnelles par leur qualité, leur diversité et leur beauté. L’exposition commence le long de la chaîne des Alpes avec des pièces exceptionnelles issues des massifs alpins (France, Italie, Suisse, Autriche) et plus particulièrement du massif du Mont-Blanc. Elle propose un des plus beaux ensembles de fluorines rose-rouge, quartz fumés, axinites, sidérites, épidotes… de renommée internationale. Elle se poursuit autour du monde, partant des mines et carrières françaises, elle vous emmène à la découverte des pièces les plus emblématiques des cinq continents : azurites de Chessy-les-Mines, aigues-marines du Pakistan, pyrites péruviennes, dioptases congolaises et opales australiennes . . . ”

There is also a new section :  le Trésor – ” or, argent, cuivre … Saphirs, rubis, émeraudes . . . Ttopazes, aigues-marines, grenats . . . métaux nobles, pierres précieuses et pierres fines, brutes ou taillées “;

FB page & website

address:615 allée du Recteur Payot, 74400, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc / tel: +33 (0)4 50 55 53 93 

parking: the paying car park of St-Michel is very convenient as you can take the lift straight to the entrance of the museum (great for a rainy day!)

Chalet de la Réserve des Aiguille Rouges (Col des Montets, Argentière)

Discover the flora, fauna, minerals and rocks of the mountains / on site: ” un sentier botanique, des observations au microscope, des expositions permanentes, des projections et des conférence.” – Chamonix Tourisme;

As well as the chalet, it is lovely to wander around the annotated sentier botanique just next to it (especially in autumn!);

address: Col des Montets,  74400, Argentière

La Maison de la Réserve Naturelle de Passy (Plaine-Joux)

Facing the 🏔 Massif du Mont-Blanc, covering 1800 ha, and located between 1300m and 2900m altitude, la Réserve Naturelle de Passy dominates the Arve Valley and links the Réserve de Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval and the Réserve des Aiguilles Rouges. The Maison de la Réserve explains: the Fiz cliffs, les moutonnements du vieux Pormenaz, the growth of the Alps, minerals, fauna, flora and more, via displays / 🌲 workshops for children doing the school holidays!

address: Maison de la Réserve Naturelle, 321 chemin des Parchets, 74190, Passy

Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Contamines-Montjoie

Founded in 1979, La Réserve naturelle des Contamines-Montjoie is a protected area extending over 5500 ha, and from 1100m up to 3892m (Aiguille nord de Tré la Tête) in altitude – therefore the highest nature reserve in France, with a huge dénivelé (2800m).

You’ll find plenty of events and workshops planned over the school holidays, as well as a nature centre at the Tourist Office.

Centre de la Nature Montagnarde (CNM, Sallanches)

No longer located withing the Château des Rubins, this association offers lots of workshops for children and talks for adults . . . ⇒ see website for more information;

Château des Rubins – Observatoire des Alpes (Sallanches)

The 🏰 Château des Rubins – Observatoire des Alpes, recently renovated and re-opened as a very modern museum, is set in the historic 14th century 🏰 Château des Rubins (just behind the Eglise St Jacques). Set across 5 floors, the museum is dedicated to 🏔 the Alps and mountains in general, and an interactive journey will take you from glaciology and geology, to some close encounters with the 🐻 resident taxidermy (a wolf, a lynx and a bear, among others!). As well as panels explaining the different exhibits, there are 🎥 films to watch, interactive screens and games – a visit to the museum is a full sensory and tactile journey!

opening hours: Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, 10h to 18h (SHUT Monday, Tuesday, Thursday), and normally open every day over the school holidays / price: 7€ and children 4,50€, under 6 years FREE;

good to know: the renovated museum is now fully accessible to buggies and wheelchairs!

[ ⇒ read more about MBFF’s summer visit to the 🏰 Château des Rubins – Observatoire des Alpes here ]

website

address: Château des Rubins - Observatoire des Alpes, 105 montée des Rubins, 74700, Sallanches / tel: +33 (0)4 50 58 32 13; 

La Maison Forte de Hautetour (Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc)

Looking down majestically upon Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, 🏰 La Maison Forte de Hautetour (13th century) was one of the several fortified manor houses of the region . . .

In 2012, it was renovated, and today it houses an exhibition detailing the history of the 🏔 Compagnie des Guides de Saint-Gervais, as well as hosting 🖼 temporary art exhibitions and artists-in-residence / 🎨 during the school holidays there are workshops for children & families here, so check the Saint-Gervais website agenda!

opening hours: open Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday 14h to 18h and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10h to 12h30 and 14h to 18h; SHUT on Mondays and all of November, 1st January, 1st May and 25th December / price: 5€ and children (5 to 18 years) 3,50€;

address: Maison Forte de Hautetour, 114 passage Montjoux, 74170 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, 74170, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains

tel: 04 50 47 79 80

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SCIENCE MUSEUMS & ACTIVITIES in Further France

Science workshops Moulin à Étincelles

MBFF has encountered the 🧪 Moulin à Etincelles workshops at the Sallanches summer festival 🌈 Les Enfants d’Abord . . . Run by two ladies with a science background, they say that they ” can’t promise you the moon, but they can promise that you’ll understand the Earth! ”

[ ⇒ see website for more details ]

Musée de l’Horlogerie et du Décolletage (Cluses)

This museum is dedicated to telling the 🕰 industrial and social history of the area (specifically, the history of mountain clock-makers and later décolletage in the area). It is located in the Espace Carpano & Pons, the old industrial site next to the river in Cluses. There are regular guided visits, films and workshops; see here for more details;

opening hours: from June until September, every day from 10h to 12h and from 14h to 18h; school holidays, every day from 14h to 18h, October until May, Wednesday to Saturdy, 14h to 18h / price: adults 5€, children/students (12 to 25 years) 3€, FREE for under 12s;

good to know: the museum is FREE on each first Sunday of the month, 14h to 18h! (with a guided visit sometimes scheduled at 15h);

website

address: Espace Carpano & Pons, 100 place du 11 Novembre, 74300, Cluses / tel: 04 50 96 43 00

La Maison du Salève (Présilly)

A visit to La Maison du Salève makes for a wonderful family day out, preferably on a fair weather day as the gardens are lovely and there are walks to enjoy en famille nearby . . . originally an 18th century farm from the Chartreuse de Pomier, La Ferme de Mikerne has been renovated to host a cultural centre recounting the history of the Salève mountain and its environs;

🖼 current temporary exhibition: 🦡 ” La forêt, maison des animaux “ – until end of September 2022;

[ ⇒ more information in MBFF article ]

website

address: 775 route de Mikerne, 74160, Présilly;

La Turbine (Le Centre de Culture Scientifique Technique et Industrielle de Haute-Savoie), in Cran Gévrier,  ANNECY

🧪 La Turbine is an innovative pedagogic centre equipped for families to learn about 🧬 science in an interactive way. There are regular exhibitions, events & workshops for children of different ages, so do check the website for current ones!

opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, 14h to 18h / price: adults 5,50€, children 3€ (and +65 ans), FREE for children under 6 years and family price 14€;

website

address: place Chorus, Cran-Gevrier, 74960, Annecy / tel: 04 50 08 17 00

Château d’Annecy (ANNECY)

Once the residence of the counts of Geneva in the 13th and 14th centuries, 🏰 the castle has been classified as a historical monument since 1959. Today, the castle houses 🖼 temporary exhibitions, as well as a permanent collection of art of cultural importance, and 💦 objects associated with Lac d’Annecy. There are special family visits organised for temporary exhibitions at the 🏰 Château d’Annecy, with a special FREE carnet de découverte for children;

good to know: Mercredi en Famille (guided visits for families, children 6+ years, on Wednesdays at 14h30, 6€) and it is FREE to visit the Château d’Annecy and its temporary exhibition on the FIRST Sunday of each month between October and May;

opening hours: from 10h to midday and from 14h to 17h, every day except Tuesday (open Tuesdays during the summer holidays, and every day from 10h30 to 18h) / price: 5,50€;

website

address: place du Château, 74000, Annecy / tel: 04 50 33 87 30

Micro Folie musée numérique (Faverges-Seythenex)

” L’art et la culture pour tous . . . inspired by 🧪 the Folies du Parc de La Villette, and supported by the Château de Versailles, le Centre Pompidou, le Louvre, le Musée national Picasso, le musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, la Philharmonie de Paris, la RMN-Grand Palais, Universcience, le Festival d’Avignon, l’Institut du Monde Arabe, l’Opéra National de Paris et le Musée d’Orsay), the public can now enjoy the treasures of the nation, through the digital projection of the works of these great establishments!

FB page

address: Tiers-lieu culturel La Forge, 130 rue Maurice Bourgeois, 74210, Faverges

Géoparc du Chablais 

Named Géopark mondial UNESCO in 2015 for its geology, exceptional scenery and patrimoines naturels et culturels / nearby you’ll find: Musée de Préhistoire et Géologie, l’Abbaye Abondance and the Abbaye Aulps;

website

Galerie Eurêka (Chambéry)

At this family-friendly museum in Chambéry, there is a permanent exhibition, and also temporary ones!

🖼 current exhibitions:

• 🖼 Espace Montagne – this is the permanent exhibition : ” . . . un lieu ludique de découvertes scientifiques. Grâce à de nombreuses expériences, manipulations, quiz, maquettes interactives et jeux, les visiteurs découvrent le monde des sciences et des technologies dans un laboratoire naturel, la montagne. “;
• ⇒ for temporary exhibitions, see here;

Aqualis – l’éxperience lac (Aix-les-Bains)

Opened in 2019, Aqualis allows you to discover the Lac du Bourget in a modern museum, with workshops on offer, an escape game, guided visits, talks and more;

FB page & website

address: 52 esplanade Jean Murguet, Aix-les-Bains

Musée des Ours de la Caverne (Entremont-le-Vieux)

“ Le Musée de l’Ours des Cavernes invite le visiteur à un voyage dans le temps, à la découverte d’un site, la Balme à Collomb et d’une espèce disparue, l’ours des cavernes. Plongez dans une aventure scientifique et humaine hors du commun. Il y a plus de 25.000 ans, dans les entrailles calcaires du Granier, une grotte, connue aujourd’hui à Entremont-le-Vieux sous le nom de “Balme à Collomb”, accueillait d’étranges occupants de la préhistoire… Ursus Spelaeus ou les Ours des Cavernes. Aujourd’hui, grâce à la curiosité de passionnés de spéléologie et la ténacité de spécialistes en paléontologie, la Chartreuse et la Savoie peuvent s’enorgueillir de posséder l’un des plus grands et plus riches gisements d’ours des cavernes jamais découvert ! ”;

website & FB page

address: Musée de l’Ours des Cavernes, Epernay, 73670, Entremont-le-Vieux / tel:  04 79 26 29 87

ESPACE ALU – Musée des Aluminium dans les Alpes (Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne)

A museum dedicated to telling the story of aluminium in the Alps . . .

website & FB page

address: ESPACE ALU, Place de l'Eglise, 73140, Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne / tel: 04 79 56 69 59

Musée des Confluences (Lyon)

Located at the 🌊 confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers (and hence the name of the museum!), 🖼 Le Musée des Confluences is immediately striking for its audacious modern architecture and its location on a presqu’île (river peninsula)!

The permanent exhibition in the museum tells the story of mankind and looks at the origin of man, different cultures and the future of mankind too (exhibits from the first telephones to Egyptian mummies), and looks at the sciences of: anthropology, paleontology, minerology, ethnography and more!

[ ⇒ full list of temporary exhibitions here ]

Planétarium de Vaulx-en-Velin (Vaulx-en-Velin, near LYON)

Built in 1995, the Planétarium de Vaulx-en-Velin is dedicated to the study of astronomy and sciences of the universe / it is now the 9th most visited cultural establishment in the Lyon area! / price: 10€ and 8€ for children under 12 years / good to know: FREE on the first Saturday of the month! / also good to know: near Mini-World Lyon and WeRide indoor bike circuit;

FB page & website

address: Place de la Nation, Vaulx-en-Velin (near Lyon)

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SCIENCE MUSEUMS & ACTIVITIES in Switzerland

Musée des Sciences de la Terre: La Fondation Tissières (Martigny)

Located just off the main square in Martigny, this museum has some permanent exhibitions ( 💎 alpine minerals, crystals & geology; a reconstructed mine; marble from Valais – see here), as well as 🖼 temporary ones (current exhibition, extended until 13th October: 📷 Sébastien Albert Monochrome rétrospective) / 🗓 opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday and weekends 13h30 until 17h / price: adults CHF6, 11 to 18 year olds CHF3 and under 10s FREE!

website

address: avenue de la Gare 6, 1920, Martigny (same building as Office de Tourisme)

Musée d’Histoire des Sciences (Geneva)

This museum is located within the 🌳 Parc du Perle du Lac, next to Lac Léman, and opposite the Botanical Gardens. It occupies the beautiful Neo-Classical Villa Bartholoni (from the 1830s), and hosts a collection of 🧫 scientific apparatus belonging to scientists and researchers from the 17th to 19th centuries / 🗓 opening hours: 10h to 17h (shut Tuesday)

good to know: ask for the 🗺 orienteering parcours leaflet for the park at the reception, and go explore! / every two years, 💫 La Nuit de la Science takes place here;

website

address: Parc de La Perle du Lac, 128 rue de Lausanne 1202, Geneva, Switzerland / tel: 41 22 418 50 60

🧬 current temporary exhibition: « La montagne, laboratoire des savants », until 23rd April 2023 (extended);

Mercredis des Sciences workshops – Wednesdays at 15h / see here;

Muséum de Genève (Natural History Museum)

The fabulous 🦁 Muséum de Genève (Natural History Museum) is still one of our go-to rainy day options! / 🗓 opening hours: 10h to 17h every day (except Monday) / 🗓 good to know: on the first Sunday of the month, this museum’s temporary exhibitions are FREE!

[ ⇒ see MBFF article for more details about the museum ]

website

address: 1 route de Malagnou, 1208, Geneva, Switzerland / tel: +41 (0) 22 418 63 00

Musée du Léman & Aquarium (Nyon)

A museum dedicated to the history of Lac Léman and an aquarium too! / 🖼 new permanent exhibition: « Petite Nature? » (36 questions to decode the the secrets of the lake!) / 🗓 opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, April until October, 10h to 17h and November to March 14h to 17h / price: CHF8 and free for children under 16 years / CHF 7 per child (museum entrance free) / 🌈 super playground right next door and picnic spot! 

[ 🗓 good to know – FREE every first Sunday of the month; 1 x entrance = free access to the 🏛 Musée Romain and the 🏰 Château de Nyon (valid 12 months) / 🎨 l’atelier Créa’lac – every 3rd Sunday of month, a workshop for children at 15h30 ]

website

address: quai Louis-Bonnard 8, 1260, Nyon, Switzerland / tel: +41 (0) 22 316 42 50

Espace des Inventions (Lausanne)

This is a space for families and children to experience and experiment with science, technology and art, through its exhibitions / 🗓 opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 14h to 18h and Sunday and bank holidays, 10h to 18h / price: children CHF5, adults CHF7;

🖼 current exhibition: « Voyage en Nord » – until 23rd April 2023 / ” Cette exposition vous invite à monter à bord de Gaia, le voilier de Barbara et Thierry Courvoisier et de partir avec eux à la découverte des eaux arctiques. Lors de cette navigation à travers les sciences naturelles, le goût de la découverte scientifique ne manquera pas de vous venir à la bouche. Au fil du voyage, vous découvrirez notamment comment flotte un bateau, comment un voilier peut avancer en remontant le vent, pourquoi la longueur des jours n’est pas partout la même, quels animaux peuplent les régions arctiques ou encore quelle est la différence entre un iceberg et l’inlandsis. Interactive, ludique et dépaysante, cette exposition-cabotage est conseillée à toutes et tous dès 7 ans. ”

website

address: Vallée de la Jeunesse 1, 1007, Lausanne, Switzerland / tel: +41 (0)21 315 68 80 

Aquatis aquarium & vivarium in Lausanne

MBFF visited 🐟 Aquatis Aquarium & Vivarium in Lausanne back in December 2021, and we loved it ! / 🥗 restaurant on-site: Piranha, with a view on the piranha pool! / 🗓 opening hours: November until March 10h to 18h, every day; April until October 9h to 19h, every day / price: CHF29, children (5 to 15) CHF19, under 5s FREE;

[ ⇒ read all about MBFF’s visit here ]

website

address: AQUATIS Aquarium-Vivarium,route de Berne 144, 1010, Lausanne, Switzerland / tel: +41 (0)21 654 23 23;

[ ⇒ for more ideas for aquariums, see separate MBFF article Animal Parks & Aquariums au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) here ]

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SCIENCE MUSEUMS & ACTIVITIES in ITALY

Museo regionale Scienze naturali Efisio Noussan (Castello Saint-Pierre)

A newly renovated natural science museum in a stunning location dominating the Aosta Valley !

You’ll need to book in advance !

FB page

address: Castello Saint-Pierre, località Tache, AOSTA (AO), Italy / tel: (+39) 0165 275902

Forte di Bard: The Museum of the Alps & Children’s Museum – Le Alpi dei Ragazzi (Aosta Valley)

This  impressive fortess, which you may have driven past if heading up or down the Aosta Valley, was entirely renovated a few years back to accommodate a cultural complex: temporary exhibition spaces, museums, accommodation and hospitality all together! The  Forte di Bard opened to visitors in 2006, and you can now make your way to the exhibitions and museums at the top of the fortress by way of a series of funiculaires; not only do you get art and culture, but adventure en-route! The views from the top are amazing and there is a lovely café/restaurant. Among the other museums and temorary exhibitions in the complex, you have :

•  The Museum of the Alps;
•  Children’s Museum – Le Alpi dei Ragazzi (only open to the public on Sundays and during holidays);

As well as regular, changing art exhibitions, every year the  Forte di Bard hosts the fabulous  Wildlife Photographer of the Year from April until June;

[ ⇒ see MBFF article for more information about the  Wildlife Photographer of the Year ]

[ ⇒ for more details about the wonderful  Forte di Bard, or to plan a family visit, please see MBFF article ]

website 

address: Forte di Bard, 1020, Bard (AO), Valle d’Aosta, Italy;

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Courses & lectures for adults

Ateliers, courses and lectures for adults in science abound au Pays du Mont-Blanc.

La Petite Université (Chamonix Valley) – set up a few years ago, this associations allows you to access all of the lectures for free if you become an annual member. There are also plenty of courses in all sorts of scientific domains : glaciology, permaculture . . .

[ ⇒ see separate MBFF article here ]

website & FB page

Centre de la Nature Montagnarde (Sallanches) – as well as wonderful workshops for children, there are many workshops and lectures offered for adults.

website & FB page

address: 9 route de Doran, 74700, Sallanches