The Musée d'Histoire Naturelle of Fribourg houses one of the most unusual exhibits in Switzerland: a taxidermied whale, one of the very few examples in the world where real whale skin was used in the preservation. The whale arrived in Fribourg in the 19th century after a long journey from the Atlantic coast, and its presence in an inland Swiss city is the kind of anomaly that makes natural history museums strange and wonderful.
The natural history museum itself is a solid if unflashy institution, with the usual range of regional wildlife and geological specimens. The whale, suspended from the ceiling of the main hall, is the undisputed centrepiece and draws visitors who might otherwise skip the museum entirely. It is housed in the Muséum d'histoire naturelle on the chemin du Musée.