New York Habitat has been showcasing some of the lesser-known museums in Paris. Despite their lack of popularity, when compared to the Louvre or the D’Orsay, these museums are still great places to visit and will really make your next trip to Paris much more exciting. This week, for our #1 hidden gem museum, we have 5 great attractions, all located in one small area of Paris.
Le Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, housed in the Jardin des Plantes in the 5th arrondissement, is really 5 musuems in one! In this one area you’ll find: le Jardin des Plantes, le Ménagerie, la Grande Galerie d’Evolution, les Galeries de Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée, and les Galeries de Minéralogie et Géologie. Le Jardin des Plantes was built under Louis XIII and was originally used to grow medicinal plants but has since become a botany museum, displaying all types of herbs, plants, and trees, both native and non-native to France. There is also a rose garden containing hundreds of species of the beautiful flower. Le Ménagerie is a small zoo that was put in place in le Jardin shortly after the French Revolution, and houses mainly small animals and birds. La Grande Galerie d’Evolution is a magnificent display of taxonomy and evolutionary science, housed in a beautiful building on the north end of le Jardin des Plantes. It is also participating in a year-long celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, which will include special exhibits, tours, and talks. Les Galeries de Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée contain thousands upon thousands of skeletons, including those of dinosaurs and some rare medical oddities as well. Finally les Galeries de Minéralogie et Géologie is home to stones, gems, and other precious minerals. Due to the limited area of le Jardin des Plantes, each attraction is limited in scope but still fascinating to see. You can visit just one or all five in a single trip!
The 5th arrondissement is also a great area of Paris to stay in since you’ll be just steps away from the Seine and the lively Latin Quarter. New York Habitat has many vacation rentals in the 5th arrondissement. Here are just a few of them:
• This 1 Bedroom Apartment in Jardin des Plantes (PA-3434) is right near le Jardin des Plantes and is both spacious and modern.
• This 1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Sorbonne (PA-1899) is a bit farther from the museums, but closer to the center of the Latin Quarter and the Panthéon.
• If you need some more space, this 2 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Jardin des Plantes (PA-2143) is also available. Also located on the top floor, this penthouse apartment is comfortably decorated so that you can truly relax after a long day of sight-seeing.
Le Jardin des Plantes with all of its museums and attractions are a wonderful way to spend a day in Paris. The setting is beautiful and the exhibits are both educational and interesting. There is surely something here that everyone can enjoy. And New York Habitat will make sure that you enjoy your vacation accommodations.
We’ve finished our list of hidden gem museums in Paris! What did you think? Are there any that you would have liked to have seen added? Please share your ideas in our comment section.
To read about the earlier entries on our list see:
#3 Le Musée de la Monnaie
#4 Le Musée Gallieria
#5 Le Musée du Vin
Now we will read more about another Parisian Hidden Gem Museum this one is known as Le Musée des Egouts de Paris
I am a little bit disappointed because I don’t think the Paris Museum d’Histoire Naturelle deserves the number 1 spot!! But anyway it seems full of info and I will be sure to stay at one of your vacation rental if I go to the French Capital.
I rented an apartment just down the street from this museum in Paris 2 years ago. It was amazing!
I was doing apartment searches for rentals in Paris that are close to Le Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, but for some reason my Internet was not working and this was the only site that came up…I guess everything happens for a reason.
I used to live right by Jardin des Plantes. It is one of my favorite spots in Paris, and I lived in a beautiful apartment right near Place d’Italie, the 13th is a great section of Paris. I recommend the Museum, it is very much like the one in NY but the surrounding gardens make it even better.
Great article! This truly is, in my opinion, one of the best museums in Paris!