Recherche
Exhibitions
Permanent exhibitions
Located in the "Palais de Rumine" in the centre of Lausanne, we display three permanent exhibits:
Fossils, archives of life: from the first living organisms to the Brassus mammoth, nearly four billions years of life evolution are shown. A particular highlight is given on fossils found in Lausanne which testify of a tropical climate 25 million years ago with rhinoceroses, crocodiles and palm trees.
Crystals on show: born from some terrestrial or space alchemy, a myriad of strange and wonderful minerals glitter in their perfect shapes with often vivid colours. A dark room filled with fluorescent minerals creates a magical atmosphere.
The underground of the Alps: the long history of our regions, layer after layer, reveal astonishing facts of our past landscapes and climates. The visitor can also interact with a virtual 3D model of the Alpine geology.
Flyers with some of our highlights
Temporary exhibitions and Events
La mer avant les poissons
From 27 November 2024 to 27 April 2025
Department of Geology
Palais de Rumine, Renevier Room, 3rd Floor
Dive into Some of the Oldest Known Animals
It was in the seas that the first animals appeared, giving rise to the first ecosystems, rich in life but long devoid of fish.
This exhibition invites you to discover the marine life of this period through a selection of spectacular fossils from Morocco, the result of research carried out at the University of Lausanne.
The yellow to bright red fossils on display are unique witnesses to life at the South Pole 480 million years ago. Dive in and come face to face with the first ‘giants’ of the seas, ancestors of many of today's groups, as well as strange organisms.
Outreach Programme
All events are free of charge.
From Saturday, 7 December 2024: Scientific Presence
Salle Renevier, Geology Department, Level 3
Every first Saturday of the month from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm (7 December, 4 January, 1 February, 1 March, and 5 April).
No registration required.
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 at 5:30 pm: Lecture followed by an Aperitif
Aula of the Palais de Rumine, Level 3
This lecture will recount the story of the discovery of these magnificent fossils, treasures of the Moroccan desert, and take you back in time to explore the animal life in the seas of the South Pole at that time. Professor Allison Daley and her team from the University of Lausanne, consisting of Pierre Gueriau, Farid Saleh, Ismail Khardali, Gaëtan Potin, and Sinéad Lynch, will guide you through this ecosystem, revealing how their research brought to light the first forms of life in the oceans.
No registration required.
Sunday, 2 February 2025 at 10:45 am: Screening
Aula of the Palais de Rumine, Level 3
As part of Ciné au Palais, the screening of Steven Spielberg’s documentary Life on Our Planet: The First Wave, followed by a discussion with palaeontologist Allison Daley.
No registration required.
Sunday, 23 March 2025 at 2:00 pm: Family Workshop
Dive into the world of trilobites and arthropods.
Registration required by 21 March 2025 at mediation.natureum@vd.ch.
Virtual exhibitions
Lausanne at the time of palm trees: in a rich tropical scenery, a diversified fauna lived in the forest 25 million years ago: tortoises, crocodiles, hippopotamus or rhinoceroses. The fossils found in Lausanne recount their history.
On the origins of the world: a sample of themes likely to arouse the curiosity of the public towards the world he lives in.
