Jardin des Plantes

Latin Quarter


Founded in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden for Louis XIII, Paris’ 24-hectare botanic gardens – visually defined by the double alley of plane trees that runs the length of the park – are an idyllic spot to stroll around, break for a picnic (watch out for the automatic sprinklers!) and escape the city concrete for a spell. Three museums from the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle and a small zoo, La Ménagerie, add to its appeal.

Other attractions include peony and rose gardens, an alpine garden, and the gardens of the École de Botanique, used by students of the school and green-fingered Parisians. The beautiful glass-and-metal Grandes Serres, a series of four greenhouses, have been in use since 1714; several of Henri Rousseau's jungle paintings, sometimes on display in the Musée d'Orsay, were inspired by his frequent visits here.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Latin Quarter attractions

3. La Ménagerie

0.33 MILES

Like the Jardin des Plantes in which it’s located, this 170-species zoo is more than a tourist attraction; it also doubles as a research centre for the…

4. Rue Crémieux

0.35 MILES

Like something out of a fairy tale, this photogenic pedestrian cobbled street stretching just 158m from rue de Bercy to rue de Lyon is lined with shutter…

5. Les Docks

0.36 MILES

Framed by a lurid-lime wave-like glass façade, a transformed Seine-side warehouse is home to the French fashion institute, the Institut Français de la…

7. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle

0.39 MILES

Despite the name, the National Museum of Natural History is not a single building, but a collection of sites throughout France. Its historic home is in…

8. Grande Galerie de l’Évolution

0.39 MILES

The highlight of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle for kids is the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, with imaginative exhibits on evolution and…