The Jardin des Plantes, founded in 1626 under Louis XIII, is now the historical core of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. Spanning approximately 27 hectares in Paris’s 5th arrondissement, it's listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The main path, lined with pruned plane trees, offers a majestic 500‑metre view toward the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution. The garden is divided into themed areas: the Botany School with over 4,500 classified species, the Alpine Garden with 2,000 mountain plants, and seasonal flowerbeds that bloom in color throughout the year.

Highlights include:

The Historic Greenhouses (17th century) recreate tropical and temperate ecosystems in architecturally significant, protected historic monuments.

The Menagerie, one of the oldest zoos (est. 1794), hosts around 150 species (40 % threatened) in listed buildings such as the Rotonde, Vivarium, and aviaries.

The Museum Galleries: mineralogy, palaeontology, zoology (Grande Galerie de l’Évolution), and botany—pillars of natural sciences history.

The atmosphere blends scientific discovery, history, and serenity—academics, families, and tourists converge here, curious about botany or seeking quiet refuge. Students benefit from a living campus. Anecdotally, beneath one plane tree stands a lime tree planted by François Mitterrand in 1989, commemorating the French Revolution bicentennial, and a cedar of Lebanon from 1734 planted by Bernard de Jussieu.

Practical info:
Open from 7:30 AM in summer (8 AM in winter) till 8 PM or 6 PM depending on season. Garden entry is free; Menagerie costs €8 (adult), €6 (reduced), free under 4 years. Access via 12 gates; nearest metro: Jussieu, Austerlitz, or Censier‑Daubenton. Facilities: restrooms, playground, cafés, multilingual guided tours, and audio‑guides.

Discover:

educational workshops for children,

temporary exhibitions (did you know the greenhouses once housed a coffee plant for Louis XIV?),

keeper talks at the menagerie,

a micro‑zoo and vivarium—perfect for fans of tiny creatures.

In summary, the Jardin des Plantes offers an immersive experience embodying 400 years of botanical knowledge and heritage, ideal for plant lovers, families, and natural history enthusiasts.