Maison du Volcan (Volcano Museum)

The Maison du Volcan is a museum on Route Nationale 3 in Bourg-Murat, La Plaine des Cafres, in southern Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean. It explains the geology and eruption history of Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world's most active shield volcanoes, through exhibits on lava types, seismic monitoring and past eruptions that have reached the coast. It is aimed at giving context before or after visiting the volcano itself, since the crater area has no interpretive signage of its own. Exhibits are indoor and self-paced, and visitors can see displays of solidified lava samples from specific past eruptions, which show how differently the volcano's lava has flowed depending on the eruption. Models, maps and monitoring information also make the landscape easier to read, and when the summit is closed to hikers or hidden by cloud, webcam feeds can be viewed here. A visit lasts between an hour and a half and two hours. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays. Entry is €9 for adults and €5 for children under 12. Visiting on the way up the Route du Volcan rather than on the way down makes the volcanic landscape further up the road easier to understand, and the museum is also an excellent indoor option during rain. Crowds are lightest on weekday mornings and heaviest on wet weekend days, when many visitors seek indoor activities. The museum sits on the RN3 between Saint-Pierre and Bourg-Murat and is reached by Car Jaune line 5 from Saint-Pierre, with two services a day at about €4, or by car, with parking on site. Families find the hands-on elements helpful, while eruption timelines suit adults who want deeper background. The museum also has a small shop with books and maps about the volcano and the island's geology.