From the quartz in your watch to the lithium in your battery, minerals are everywhere in your daily life. The Toulouse Museum is dedicating a temporary exhibition to them , running from October 2, 2026, to July 4, 2027, drawing on its collections of over 9,000 mineral specimens. It revisits “Secrets of the Earth,” originally conceived by the Musée des Confluences in Lyon, and enriches it with new content: the history of mineralogy, pigments through the ages, and the role of minerals in pop culture. A truly memorable event!
Four zones to explore the secrets of minerals
From the depths of the Earth to the far reaches of space, the Toulouse Museum invites us to see minerals in a new light. This exhibition brings together 290 specimens, including 14 remarkable pieces such as a blue fluorite, aragonite from the former Salsigne gold mine, and native gold on quartz from the Col du Pourtalet.
Divided into four zones, the exhibition explores the connections between minerals, history, science, and society: the extraction of raw materials, the astonishing properties of crystals, the resources of tomorrow, and the influence of minerals on art and culture. The highlight is the Marsoulas conch, a seashell transformed into a wind instrument nearly 18,000 years ago and on display for the first time in Toulouse.
Events for all ages
The exhibition goes beyond the display cases. “Museum Thursdays” kick off on October 8 at 6:30 p.m. with Nicolas Coltice and his lecture “The Metamorphoses of the Earth.” The next day, enjoy an outdoor movie night in the garden of the Jolimont Observatory: a preview of the exhibition, a science-fiction film, refreshments, and tours of the Observatory are on the program starting at 7:00 p.m.
Younger visitors can also conduct their own investigation with “Mineral Z Investigation”(for ages 7 and up) or get an introduction to science with “The Little Rocks Workshop” and “Everything That Glitters!”(for ages 3–6).
On the photography front, the Henri Gaussen Botanical Garden will host “Reliefs of Time” starting October 2—an exhibition of photographs from the Eugène Trutat collection—as part of “Une Saison Photo ” in Toulouse. And for those who prefer writing or photography, two contests are also being held through 2027.
Practical Information
The exhibition is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except on December 25, January1, and May1. Admission is €12 (reduced rate €8). Admission is free for people with disabilities and their companions, as well as for recipients of minimum social benefits. Content is available in French and English, with a mobile tour in French Sign Language (LSF).
The Museum is located at 35 Allées Jules Guesde. It is accessible via Metro Line B (Carmes or Palais de Justice), Tram Line T1 (Palais de Justice), and Buses 44, 66, and L9.
