Contacts
Museo regionale di Scienze Naturali Efisio Noussan - Sede espositiva
Address
Castello di Saint-Pierre - loc. Tache 5
11010 SAINT-PIERRE (AO)
Telephone
E-mail
Web Site
Regional Natural Science Museum
Resort: Saint-Pierre
Closed on Mondays, except on public holidays. Open from Tuesday to Sunday all year round.
- From April to September: from 10am to 7pm
- July and August: from 10am to 1pm and from 5.30pm to 11pm, with free entry every Tuesday from 8.30pm
- From October to March: from 10am to 6pm
- Special opening in 2026: Monday 7 December 2026
Admission with self-guided tour.
Guided tour times:
- From October to May: from Tuesday to Friday at 3.30pm and 4.30pm – Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 3.30pm
- June, July and September: from Tuesday to Sunday at 11am and 3pm
- August: from Tuesday to Sunday at 11am and 6.30pm
Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
The last tour takes place 1 hour before closing time.
- Free visit
full price ticket: 10 €
reduced ticket: 8 €
reduced ticket 19-25 years old: 3 €
reduced applies to: groups or groups accompanied by a tourist guide - hiking-nature guide - mountain guide (25 pax) or in the event of partial unavailability of several rooms.
free applies to: young people 0-25; certified handicapped persons and a companion; teachers or people accompanying school groups; tourist guide - hiking-naturalistic guide and mountain guide who accompanies the group; journalists; ICOM or ANMS card holders; Abbonamento Musei holders. - Accompanied visit
full price ticket: 15 €
reduced ticket: 10 €
family ticket (two adults + two children > 6 years): 30 €
reduced applies to: young people 6-25; groups divided into groups of 15 up to a maximum of 20 people.
free applies to: children 0-5; certified handicapped persons and a companion; - Combined ticket Efisio Noussan Regional Museum of Natural Sciences + Alpenfaunamuseum Beck-Peccoz (Gressoney-Saint-Jean)
Full price: 12 €
Reduced: 9 €
Reduced for 19–25-year-olds: 3 € - Schools
Guided tour by Museum staff: 4.50 € per student
Visit associated to an educational workshop: free of charge
both by reservation only
The goods liftis out of service
The entrance ticket can be purchased online on the website www.museoscienze.vda.it or directly at the museum ticket office.
Telephone bookings are only available for groups of 15 or more people on +39 0165 95931, from Tuesday to Sunday during opening hours
The open visit is allowed for a maximum of 25 people with departures every half hour. Accompanied visits are allowed for a maximum of 20 people.
Pets are not allowed inside the museum, nor is it allowed to introduce and/or consume food or drinks. The use of cameras, video cameras and mobile phones to take photographs and short videos is permitted.
The physically disabled will be able to access rooms 1, 3 and 4 of the itinerary. In room 3 there is an interactive station which makes it possible to discover even those rooms that are not currently accessible to the physically disabled.
the last entry to the castle is 60 minutes before closing
In the event of snow, the lift will be deactivated.
Contacts
The Regional Museum of Natural Sciences Efisio Noussan offers a unique experience in the heart of a historic castle, where history and nature intertwine.
The dual-perspective visit allows you to explore both the castle’s history, discovering preserved features like fireplaces, furnishings, decorations, and coats of arms, and the flora, fauna, and natural environment of the Aosta Valley through interactive and multimedia exhibits.
You can also see the Lyskamm marmot, considered the oldest mummified find in Italy.
The museum visit includes 16 rooms spread across the ground floor and two upper levels.
1 - Hall of Coats of Arms
Discover the castle’s origins and noble coats of arms through virtual reconstructions.
2 - Hall of Differences: from vineyards to the North Pole
The Aosta Valley boasts extraordinary biodiversity. From the vineyards of the lower valley to the glaciers of Mont Blanc, the landscape mirrors a journey from the Mediterranean to the Arctic. The exhibit highlights various altitudinal zones, protected areas, natural parks, and alpine botanical gardens.
3 - Hall of Time: the old Natural Sciences Museum
Learn the history of the museum, from its founding to today, through historical exhibits and original furnishings.
4 - Hall of Rocks: the stories they tell
Explore the Alpine geology of the Aosta Valley. Discover granite from Mont Blanc, gneiss from Gran Paradiso, the sharp lines of the Matterhorn, and the dolomitic forms of Cime Bianche through rock samples and virtual interviews with geologists.
5 - Hall of Mines
Located in the basement, this room delves into the region's mining tradition and its historical significance.
6 - Hall of Slopes: the sunny side and the shady side
The differing exposures to sunlight, known as adret (sunny) and envers (shady), create contrasting microclimates, shaping ecosystems and agricultural practices.
7 - Hall of the “Abbés Savants”
A tribute to the scholar-priests who advanced natural knowledge in the Aosta Valley.
8 - Noussan Hall
Dedicated to the museum’s founder, Efisio Noussan, and his passion for the region's natural heritage.
9 & 10 - Halls of Water: the creative force
Explore the vital role of water, from glaciers to mountain springs, alpine lakes, and waterfalls. Dioramas and an immersive soundscape capture the essence of water's presence.
11 - Hall of the Forest: the secret life
Take a night-time stroll through a recreated mountain forest, surrounded by the sounds and shadows of its hidden inhabitants.
12 - Hall of Vertigo: inhabitants of the void
Discover the flora and fauna that thrive in the vertical world of cliffs and rocky outcrops, alongside human ingenuity seen in roads, terraces, and mountain villages.
13 & 14 - Halls of the Meadow: the four seasons
Experience the changing alpine landscape across the seasons, from vibrant blooms and grazing livestock to the traces of wild animals.
15 - Hall of Ice: living glaciers
Glaciers serve as both tourist attractions and natural laboratories. Learn about their role in climate science, mountaineering history, and environmental change.
16 - Hall of Emotions
Conclude your visit with breathtaking panoramic views of the Aosta Valley, leaving you with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
This museum offers more than a simple exhibition; it’s an interactive journey through history, nature, and exploration, inviting you to discover the Aosta Valley with fresh eyes.
How to get here
From Aosta by public transport:
- Bus 581 – Aosta – Courmayeur, running every day, bus stop ‘Saint-Pierre – Hotel Château’. Timetable available on aosta.arriva.it. Continue on foot for about 10 minutes towards the castle.
or - Bus 29 – Saint-Pierre – Villefranche, running from Monday to Saturday (no holidays), bus stop ‘Saint-Pierre – Chateau’ or ‘Saint-Pierre – Scuole’. Timetable available on svap.it. Continue on foot for about 10 minutes towards the castle.
Bus tickets can be bought at the authorised ticket offices or directly on the bus without any additional fee. Cash or card payments are accepted on the bus.
See also
Note - this information is not directly connected to the Cammino Balteo path but it is part of the Aosta Valley tourist offer.