Perched atop an artificial mound built from medieval rubble, the Jardin des Plantes’ “grand labyrinth” offers a romantic stroll through a maze of Mediterranean boxwood, yews, cedar, and pine. Shaped over centuries by Louis XIII and later redesigned by Buffon under Louis XVI, the spiraling path leads inevitably to its crown jewel: the Buffon’s Gloriette, a masterful structure in iron, bronze, and copper, erected between 1786 and 1788 by architect Edme Verniquet.
This circular pavilion, about 4 m in diameter, stands on eight fluted columns supporting a lantern topped with an armillary sphere and a weather vane. Often hailed as Paris’ oldest metallic monument, visitors can safely climb a hidden staircase to take in bucolic views of the surrounding garden and spot bats that roost beneath its roof.
The atmosphere here is that of a peaceful, scientific garden. Families wander around, sometimes hunting for the tomb of Daubenton or the Lion Fountain. Children and adults alike marvel at the tabular Cedar of Jussieu (1734) and a Cretan Maple (1702) nearby . In the shade, with birdsong and softly flowing water, time seems to stand still.
This gem attracts nature lovers, history enthusiasts, families, and botany students. A delightful tidbit: Buffon’s Gloriette was once fitted with a sundial and a precise clock that chimed at noon sharp—until it was removed in 1795.
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