Jardin des Plantes - Paris Garden Spotlight

Back when I lived in Paris, I often wandered into the Jardin des Plantes. Despite being frequented less by tourists than the Jardin des Tuilleries (near the Louvre) or the Jardin du Luxembourg (near my uni - bonjour, Sorbonne!), this garden holds its own in regards to beauty, history, and general appeal.

This post will mostly include photos, with short accompanying contextual blurbs, to show you why it’s worth being on your radar!

The Main garden

Be overcome by lust as you wander throughout the garden.

Various plants, flowers, ponds, statues, and even fountains can be found within the confines of the park. You could easily spend an afternoon sauntering through the area, and even having a little picnic or snack!

Allow the photos below to whet your appetite to visit:

There are tons of boulangeries and patisseries near the park that you can visit to grab something to munch on. One I really recommend popping by is Nuance Café. Make sure to check out the post in which I review that café and other Rive Gauche suggestions in detail!

Some gorgeous ponds and choice grandness (with cards depicting which plans are being grown) throughout.

Me cracking up, because my friend reminded me that I sat on a cactus (details on that later in this post…).

Below is the main view of the Jardin in the early winter. It still retains a haunting beauty!

The alpine garden

A small but mighty garden lies at the heart of the Jardin des Plantes. A short underpass hidden within the park leads you into the alpine garden, which features a slew of plants found in - surprise, surprise - the alps.

This is by far my favourite part of the Jardin. Both the plants themselves - and the lack of people since no one can ever find the underpass - make it spectacular to explore.

The Greenhouses (les serres)

Cacti ABOUND.

For a few euros, you can visit the Grandes Serres du Jardin des Plantes (Greenhouses). There are three different greenhouses that you can check out, that each feature different ecosystems. From aquatic plants from humanity’s primitive beginnings, to dessert friendly cacti, there are lot’s of variations to visit.

Also shoutout to the CAVES they created. They’re not something I’ve seen inside a greenhouse before!

Moments later… I sat on a cactus.

Can’t get the few speckles of blood out of this dress. UGH.

The Menagerie

Flamingos and gorillas in Paris? You betcha!

For a fee, you can visit the menagerie within the garden. It’s small, but well designed.

The Museums

I have visited all three of the museums in the Jardin des Plantes, but I confess, I cannot find any of my photos from that time (I had an issue with my phone that deleted a bunch of photos, and I have a sneaky suspicion they’re gone…).

There are three very different museums within a few minutes of one another. They’re smaller, more condensed collections, but very detailed, and well researched. The three museums are:

Grande Galerie de l'Évolution (Grand Gallery of Evolution)
This museum, as the name suggests, documents the history of evolution. There are some great taxidermy and model animals that bring everything to life. The top floor is my favourite, and you could easily spend 3 hours going through everything. This would be my number 1 pick of the three museums to visit!
Galerie de Paléontologie et d’Anatomie comparée (Gallery of Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy)
Bones, bones, and more bones! Fantastic to scale models of dinosaurs and other animals abound in this abridged palaeontology museum. It’s like the National History Museum in the UK, but smaller, and more stylish. I adore the layout of the museum, and how there are statues and art pieces that intersperse the collection. This museum layout truly combines science, and art. It’s worth visiting for the interior space alone!
Galerie de Géologie et de Minéralogie (Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology)
I doubted the interest of this museum, but it’s actually really cool. There is a comprehensive guide of stones and minerals on display, and it actually manages to capture your attention very well.

There you have it! My spotlight on The Jardin des Plantes!

I hope when you visit Paris, you consider visiting this garden either in tandem with, or instead of, the other Jardins (Tuileries Garden and Luxembourg Garden).

This attraction is free of charge - you don’t need to spend a cent to enjoy the garden itself. For a small optional add-on, you can visit one of the museums, the menagerie, or the greenhouses. Otherwise, just explore the expansive scenery.

This is a must for an inexpensive day in Paris. You can just traipse around, and take in the sensational sights.

I hope you enjoy this post, and consider adding this to your itinerary on your next French vacation!