Visit the Musée du Léman Lake Geneva Museum in Nyon

The Léman Museum in Nyon is a great family destination with information on Lake Geneva’s natural history and role in Swiss life and the local economy.

Musée du Léman (Lake Geneva Museum) in Nyon, Switzerla

The Musée du Léman in Nyon is a museum focusing on all aspects of nature and life related to Lake Geneva (Lac Léman in French) between Switzerland and France. The eclectic collection of the Léman Museum ranges from an aquarium to pre-Roman art, steamboat engines, fauna, and flora, as well as the water of Switzerland’s largest lake.

The Nyon Musée du Léman (Lake Geneva Museum)

Musée du Léman (Lake Geneva Museum) boat mascot

The Musée du Léman is spread over several floors and exhibition spaces on the shores of Lake Geneva in the Rive district of Nyon. Numerous information sheets explain the finer details of exhibitions. The highlights are available in English and German in addition to more detailed explanations in French.

The museum has a small aquarium where fish may be observed that lived in the different areas and depths of Lake Geneva. Further exhibitions explain the fauna and flora as well as influences on the water quality of Lake Geneva.

A large section of the exhibition focuses on Lake Geneva itself. At 10,000 years the lake is relatively young. Influences of wind, temperature, and events on the water flow in the lake are illustrated – theoretically, a drop of water entering the lake via the Rhône River from Valais should spend 12 years in the lake before exiting via the Rhône in Geneva. Since 1884, the level of Lake Geneva has been regulated at 372.05 m above sea level.

Boating has long been important on Lake Geneva – initially as a form of transportation for heavy wares but currently mostly for pleasure cruises. Many boats and models demonstrate the development of boating on Lake Geneva. The steam engine of the Helvétie II used from 1926 to 1974 can be seen – similar vintage engines can be enjoyed in operation on many of the CGN pleasure boats cruising on Lake Geneva.

Visiting the Musée du Leman with Children

Musée du Léman in Nyon diorama

The Musée du Léman is a great destination for families with small children. School groups go through the museum at high frequencies meaning anything that should not be touched is safely hidden behind glass.

Many practical exhibitions and activity stations are available to pick the interests of children in science. Children enjoy the larger items in the boating section as well as the live fish. Play areas are available next to the museum.

Visiting Musée du Léman (Lake Geneva Museum) in Nyon, Switzerland

Musée du Léman Sign in Nyon, Switzerland

The Musée du Léman in Nyon, Quai Louis Bonnard 8, is open Tuesday to Sunday (as well as on holiday Mondays). From November to March, the museum is open from 2 to 5 pm and from April to October from 10 am to 5 pm. Most of the museum is accessible to wheelchair users.

Admission to the Lake Geneva Museum is CHF8, which includes admission to the Local History Museum in Nyon Castle and Roman Museum. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month, during many festivals, as well as to children under 16. The Swiss Museum Pass is valid.

In contrast to the other two museums, the Musée du Léman is not in the old town but rather in the Rive area at lake level. Adjacent to the museum is a play area for children with the Parc du Bourg-de-Rive park and further play areas only a few minutes walk away.

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