The museum, located in the picturesque old town of Estavayer, is housed in a 15th century manor. Its exhibitions are both captivating and charming. It displays weapons as well as objects from everyday life and natural history in five different rooms. The Museum is renowned for its collection of 108 taxidermically prepared frogs in human poses.

The Frogs

The collection of frogs in natural form dating from the mid-19th century is so fascinating that it gave rise to the nickname "Frog Museum". The amphibians are playfully posed in scenes representing humans in their daily activities. Surrounded by miniature furniture, they reflect the society of the time with a touch of humour. The rarity and quality of the work as well as its astounding preservation make this collection so precious.

The Collections

The collections are essentially local and regional and date from prehistoric times to the modern day. The great events which changed the course of the small town’s history are represented by the collection of weapons and archaeology. The display of objects of everyday life and handicrafts remind us of the hard physical work carried out in the past. Domestic utensils are exhibited in an ancient kitchen located next to a room which displays agricultural tools, keys, locks and a large number of stuffed birds.

The Museum, a Curiosity?

The manner of display is from another period. Although the rooms are organized according to themes, the juxtaposition of various objects is as surprising as is the abundance of exhibits. These elements date back to the creation of the Museum in 1927 and its expansion in 1941. With its preservation in its almost original state, the Museum offers us a second key to reading the development of our attitudes and mindset. In this sense, the Museum is a curiosity.

The Building

The building itself is the Museum's primary presentation object. Purchased in 1406 by Humbert the Bastard, lord of Estavayer and half-brother of Amédée VIII, Count of Savoy, the house served as his dwelling until his death in 1443. The facade towards the street, with its two triple blind windows on the upper floor, is especially noteworthy and has remained almost unchanged since 1408.

Humbert’s residence had courtyards at the rear that were accessible through the passageway under the Museum, now called Ruelle de la Fausse-Porte. At that time, there used to be vegetable gardens there, now converted into a public garden with a small playground.

Before it was transformed into a museum and opened to the public in 1927, the house was used as a school, a granary and tithing house, to name a few of its previous functions. Despite the many different uses over the centuries, the house still maintains its original structure.