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Fossil Museum of Monte San Giorgio

The Fossil Museum of Monte San Giorgio in Meride, Switzerland, is dedicated to the paleontological heritage of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Monte San Giorgio. It displays fossils from the Middle Triassic and Jurassic, including marine reptiles, fish and ammonites, across four floors. The museum offers immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences, a paleontological preparation laboratory, and numerous outdoor educational stations in the surrounding territory.

Families and Kids

The museum is suitable for all ages from 3 to 99 and offers numerous interactive, tactile and olfactory stations, as well as virtual and augmented reality experiences that children particularly enjoy. Educational activities and workshops for young visitors are regularly offered, and audio guides for children are available.

Information

  • Visit duration: 90min
  • Barrier free: Yes
  • For rainy days: Yes
  • Free entrance: No
  • Lockers: True
  • Price range: $$
  • Topic: Natural history
    • Guided tours: Yes
    • Workshops: Yes
    • Children experience: Child friendly
    • Children age group: 3-6, 6-12, 12-18
    • Children activities: Interactive exhibits, Workshops, Tours and demonstrations

Opening hours

Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00, as well as on Easter Monday and Whit Monday; closed on Mondays, 24-25 and 31 December, and 1 January.
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
09:00-17:00
Wednesday
09:00-17:00
Thursday
09:00-17:00
Friday
09:00-17:00
Saturday
09:00-17:00
Sunday
09:00-17:00

Admission fees

12 CHF
Adult admission
10 CHF
Reduced admission
6 CHF
Children aged 6 to 16
0 CHF
Children up to 5 years old
29 CHF
Family ticket: 2 adults + 2 children aged 6-16
3 CHF
School pupils
5 CHF
Teachers

Contact

Webpage
museodeifossili.ch
Email
info@montesangiorgio.org
Address
Via Bernardo Peyer 9, 6866 Meride

Access

Nearby stops

  • Meride, Paese150 meters walking distance

Travel duration

From
Travel time
Lugano
53m
Bellinzona
1h 13m
Locarno
1h 37m
Zug
2h 29m
Luzern
2h 50m

FAQ

  • Are the virtual reality experiences included in the admission price?
    The virtual reality experiences Meride Beach, Il Mondo Sommerso and Acquario Triassico are included in the admission price. The Dragons Alive mixed reality experience (from age 10) must be booked separately for an additional fee.
  • Is the museum accessible for visitors with reduced mobility?
    The museum building is accessible to people with disabilities and their companions. It is spread over four levels reachable by a lift. All exhibition rooms are accessible to people with reduced mobility, except the Meride Beach VR room. Disabled toilets with a changing table are located on the ground floor.
  • Are there guided tours and audio guides available?
    Guided tours of the museum (about 1.5 hours) are available upon reservation. Multimedia audio guides for adults and children are available in Italian, German, French and English for an additional fee.
  • What facilities are available inside the museum?
    The museum offers a cloakroom, a gift shop, a refreshment corner, and an interactive relief model on the second floor with information about excursions. Disabled toilets with a changing table are located on the ground floor.
  • Are there outdoor excursions connected to the museum?
    The museum is connected to several outdoor educational stations, including the Val Mara panoramic terrace, the Acqua del Ghiffo excavation site with the Carpanee educational classroom, the Arzo marble quarries, the Tremona archaeological park, and the geo-paleontological trail around Monte San Giorgio.