Jardin des Plantes

Overview

The Jardin des Plantes is France's premier botanical garden. Founded originally to grow medicinal herbs for the King, this sprawling 28-hectare estate along the Left Bank now serves as a massive, world-class center for botany, zoology, and natural history.

Highlights

• Grande Galerie de l'Évolution: The jaw-dropping main natural history museum, featuring a spectacularly lit, massive parade of taxidermy animals marching under a huge glass roof.
• The Grandes Serres: Four magnificent, soaring Art Deco and metallic glasshouses containing tropical rainforests, deserts, and exotic flora.
• Ménagerie: Founded in 1794, it is one of the oldest operational public zoos in the world, focused tightly on rescuing endangered smaller species.

History

Established in 1635 by Louis XIII as the Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants. Following the French Revolution, the royal gardens and the displaced animals from the menagerie at Versailles were reorganized into the massive National Museum of Natural History that exists today.

Visitor Tips

• Tickets: Entry to the beautifully manicured outdoor gardens is completely free. The museums, greenhouses, and zoo require separate tickets.
• Families: This is arguably the absolute best park in Paris for children, offering endless variety in a completely enclosed space.
• Duration: 1 hour for the gardens, up to 4 hours if visiting the museums.