Gallery of Evolution

About Gallery of Evolution

The Gallery of Evolution sits inside the Jardin des Plantes in Paris's 5th arrondissement, and it's the part of the French national natural history museum most people come to see. The building dates to the 1880s, though it was closed for decades and reopened in 1994 after a full restoration. What you walk into now is a huge, light-filled hall under a glass roof, built around a single idea: the diversity of life and how it has changed over time. The centerpiece is a long procession of taxidermied animals arranged mid-stride across the main floor, a sort of parade that reads almost like a caravan crossing the room.

The upper levels shift the focus. One floor deals with human impact and species that have gone extinct or are close to it, including specimens of animals that no longer exist anywhere. There are skeletons, mounted creatures, and the kind of large marine and African mammals that make the scale of the place obvious once you're standing next to them. Lighting in the main hall changes through the visit to suggest different times of day, which is part of why it photographs the way it does. It's a popular stop for families, since the subject matter and the sheer size of the animals hold up well for younger visitors.

The gallery is one of several sites within the Jardin des Plantes complex, which also includes botanical gardens, a small zoo, and other museum halls, so it's easy to build a half-day around it. Entry is paid, and a separate ticket may be needed for the other galleries on the grounds. The nearest Metro stops are Jussieu and Gare d'Austerlitz, both a short walk away. It's a straightforward add-on if you're already spending time in the Latin Quarter or along this stretch of the Left Bank.