The Jardin des Plantes Paris

Image by Adam Roberts

Adam Roberts photo

Adam from Paris

Born and brought up in England. I quickly fell in love with Paris, it now means ...

Read all articles

Parisian parks are another classic example of the French paradox. Usually heart-achingly beautiful, they are also often fantastically impractical and over-regulated. Like many aspects of the city, they are there primarily to be looked at, and not somewhere that you can run around and enjoy yourself. So given this fact, why is the Jardin des Plantes still my favourite part of Paris? Probably because it truly is a Jardin with no intention of becoming a Parc, making it stand out from its Luxembourg and Tuileries sisters.

Living in a city it is sometimes easy to miss the passing of the seasons, but when I go to the Jardin des Plantes I can see, feel and smell whether it is Spring or Autumn. It is perhaps at its best in Spring, but the recently reopened greenhouses also bring warmth on a winter day! Often I come here simply to breathe and charge my batteries, but for the more adventurous there is also the world’s oldest zoo and a selection of museums related to nature and geology. There are also several refreshment kiosks and a more upmarket restaurant, La Balaine.

🔎 Looking for a map? Download our iPhone / Android app!

Adam from Paris

Adam Roberts photo

Born and brought up in England. I quickly fell in love with Paris, it now means ...

Read all articles

Details about this spot

Categories

Address

Rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, Paris

Opening Times

Variable opening times, depending on the season

Price

Free
Last Changed Date: 2016-05-19 11:45:13 +0200 (Thu, 19 May 2016)