Natural History Museum of Crete reopens after renovation in Heraklion

The Natural History Museum of Crete reopened its renovated exhibition spaces on Friday, October 16, 2026, with an official inauguration ceremony in Heraklion.

The event was attended by Archbishop of Crete Evgenios, Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavros, Region of Crete Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis, University of Crete Rector Giorgos Kontakis, members of parliament, mayors and representatives of local organizations.

A new era for the museum

In his address, Arnaoutakis said the day marked a new era for the museum, which is housed in the historic Old Power Plant building in Heraklion. He said the renovated facilities give society, and especially younger generations, a lasting destination for knowledge, inspiration and awareness, placing the museum among the island’s wider experiences in Crete for visitors and students.

Climate and biodiversity focus

Arnaoutakis addressed the challenges of the climate crisis, rising sea levels in the Mediterranean and biodiversity loss, saying the state must actively support natural history institutions as national centers of knowledge. He added that Crete is not watching passively but is at the forefront of these issues, pointing to the island’s protected ecosystems, including its gorges in Crete and UNESCO-recognized areas such as Psiloritis, Asterousia and the geopark in Sitia, as what he described as an “ecological anchor.”