National Museum of Natural
History (Musée National D'Histoire Naturelle)
Musée National D'Histoire Naturelle is recognized as one of the three largest museums of natural history in the world today
The National Museum of Natural History in Paris France was established in 1793 and has a very interesting history that actually predates this. It is said the actual origins of the museum are in the medicinal gardens of King Louis XIII or Jardin royal des plantes medicinales, which were later renamed and modified by King Louis XV to simply Jardin du Roi or the Kings Garden which then enabled the gardens to focus on a broader spectrum of natural plants and later on natural history in general.
From 1739 to 1788 the Royal Garden was run under the direction of Georges-Louis Leclerc, de Buffon who was the leading naturalist of his age, the Royal Gardens survived the French Revolution and was later changed under the Republican Government to the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle. The original aims of the museum were to educate the public and increase the natural collection as much as possible.
There are a number of branches of the museum throughout France but the main one is still in the original location of the Jardin des Plantes, 5th arrondissement of Paris or Metro Place Monge. The museum is recognized as one of the three largest museums of natural history in the world today and is also recognized legally as the National Reference Centre or the Natural World.
The museum's huge collection is estimated to exceed 60 million specimens from a variety of disciplines including geology, botany, palaeontology, zoology and anthropology.
One of the biggest attractions at the museum is the world famous Great Gallery of Evolution which is an enormous, slightly overwhelming space that houses an incredible array of species and specimens from throughout our natural history. These range from dinosaur skeletons and fossils to extinct species of animals and a very detailed look at how these different species including man have evolved over the years. The museum itself has evolved with the times and presents a number of installations with interactive mediums as well.
Nearby attraction: Jardin des Plantes
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesMusée National d’Histoire Naturelle Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
Phone: 01 40 79 56 01
Official Website: Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle
Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle Reviews
Rated out of 5
I intended to visit the other museum with cooler skeletal specimen but by mistake i bought ticket for this one, did not disappoint!
The temporary exhibition on desert was really informative and fun, also explained in English which was not the case for almost entirely the permanent collection. One note: the white texts in the second pic are a bit difficult to comprehend without enough light.
Permanent exhibition seems titanic, i saw the greatest diversity of butterflies ive ever seen in my life.
Museum itself is also lit up in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Need to reserve at least three hours if you want to even browse everything
T Z - 2 months ago
I just love this museum, it would be amazing when some of the explanations are at least in English, too. It is only in French (except for the temporary expositions).
I would be glad when they could do it a bit more interactive.
Kiimiku Tuga - a month ago
I have been to the Grande Galérie d'Évolution and to the Galérie de Paléontolie e d'Anatomie Comparée. They have a large collection in terms of number, although everything feels a little claustrophobic in terms of space, especially for the paleontology gallery. Great fossils records, but it lacks more description of each piece.
Pedro Roque - a month ago
The museum’s slightly dim interior creates the perfect atmosphere for each animal and species to stand out beautifully under the spotlights. The architecture is stunning, the gardens are lovely to explore, and it’s very kid-friendly overall. A perfect weekend of knowledge and discovery!
Amanda Galal - 8 months ago
Great experience to learn about the natural history of France. We brought our kids, 9 and 11, and they enjoyed the place and learned quite a bit. Would highly recommend visiting of you are in Paris. This didn't break the bank compared to other tourist areas.
Book your ticket in advance to avoid line ups to purchase. We walked right in.
Patrick Sanders - 7 months ago
Directions
| Metro / RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M7 or M10 | Jussieu Station | 5 minutes |
| M5 | Quai de la Rapée Station | 5 minutes |
How to get to Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle by Metro / RER
By Metro: Exit Metro M7 or M10 at Jussieu Station and go to your left walking straight south along Rue Linne to the entrance via the gate at the southeast corner or exit Metro M5 at Quai de la Rapée Station and go to your right throught the plaza and right again across Pont d'Austerlistz (Bridge) to the entrance gate on the far side of the traffic circle and make your way through the gardens to the entrance.
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Photo Gallery
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Entomology showcase inside Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle cc licensed photo by girolame -
Photo Credit: Paul Keller - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Stavrarg - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: conall.. - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: So_P - cc license via Flickr
