Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7.30am-7.45pm Apr-Oct, 8am-5.15pm Nov-Mar;
Gare d'Austerlitz, Censier Daubenton or Jussieu)
Founded in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden for Louis XIII, Paris' 24-hectare botanic gar-
dens - visually defined by the double alley of plane trees that run the length of the park -
are an idyllic spot to stroll around, break for a picnic (watch out for the automatic sprink-
lers!) and escape the city concrete for a spell. Upping its appeal are three museums from the
Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
and a small
zoo
.
Other attractions include peony and rose gardens, an alpine garden, and the gardens of the
École de Botanique, used by students of the school and green-fingered Parisians. The beau-
(a series of four greenhouses) have been in use since 1714, and several of Henri Rousseau's
jungle paintings (sometimes on display in the
Musée d'Orsay
)
were inspired by his frequent
visits here.
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
MUSÉUM NATIONAL D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE
Gare
d'Austerlitz, Censier Daubenton or Jussieu)
Despite the name, the Natural History Museum is not a single building, but a collection of
sites throughout France. Its historic home is in the Jardin des Plantes, and it's here you'll find
the greatest number of branches: taxidermied animals in the excellent
Grande Galerie de
Created in 1793, the National Museum of Natural History became a site of significant sci-
entific research in the 19th century. Of the three museums here, the four-floor Grande Galer-
ie de l'Évolution is a particular winner if you're travelling with kids: life-sized elephants, ti-
gers and rhinos play safari, and imaginative exhibits on evolution, extinction and global
warming fill 6000 sq metres. The temporary exhibits are generally excellent. Within this
€9/7)
- which is a hands-on science museum tailored to children from ages six to 12.
ZOO
MÉNAGERIE DU JARDIN DES PLANTES
