The best museums Cardiff

With a wealth of permanent collections dedicated to fine arts, contemporary art and decorative arts, the Cardiff National Museum also offers the opportunity to explore the country through its natural history. The visit is a real delight for young and old alike. And free admission is a good argument for wasting a few hours, especially if the weather is rainy.

National Museum of Natural History. On the ground floor is a spectacular botanical, zoological and geological department. Reconstituted natural landscapes, stuffed animals, herbaria and interactive maps show the genesis of the Welsh landscape. The huge skeleton of a humpback whale and the world's largest leatherback turtle will impress the whole family.

National Museum of Art. On the ^first floor, the National Museum of Cardiff also stands out for its very rich collection of works of art from all over the world. The Italian school is well represented, with Botticelli or Tiepolo. Then came Richard Wilson, Thomas Jones and Sir William Goscombe John for the local stamp. Finally, an interesting impressionist collection: Landscape in Auvers under the rain of Van Gogh, painted a few weeks before his death, Cézanne, Les Parisiennes de Renoir, Pissaro, Sisley or even Boudin, Braque, Derain, Vlaminck, Max Ernst and Magritte testify to the eclecticism of the Conservatives' good taste.

The sculpture section is not to be outdone since a copy of Rodin's Baiser and some of the sculptor's originals are on display.

This beautiful red brick building in Gothic style was built in 1897. It became the administrative centre of Cardiff Harbour in 1947. Since 2010, it is a venue for events and conferences open to the public. It is also a museum whose objective is to provide an understanding of the history of the country and Cardiff Bay. From the golden age of its port, linked to the export of iron ore and coal in the 19th century, through the crises of the 1920s and 1950s, to the renewal of the city undertaken since the 1980s.

This museum is dedicated to the history of Cardiff, or how the small 14th century merchant town became one of the largest ports in the world in the 1900s. There is a large exhibition on the ground floor with objects, interactive presentations and some paintings. In the basement, the museum section is more dedicated to children. The "Old Library" also houses a local handicraft shop and a café on the ^1st floor. Regularly, temporary exhibitions enrich the visit. Do not hesitate to check their website.