The Natural History Museum of Autun originated in the early 19th century. The collections then formed by the Natural History Society and currently property of the City of Autun, are of exceptional quality. The Museum manages its reserves more than 800,000 samples. The basin of Autun is a reference (stratotype) in the history of the earth for a period of the Paleozoic era. Fossils preserved in the museum collection are in the testimony.