Le Jardin des Plantes, Paris, France

The Jardin des Plantes originates from 1626 when it was called Jardin du Roi but it wasn't until 1635 that King Louis XIII physicist turned it into a medicinal herb garden. It opened to the public in 1640.
Almost 100 years later, in 1739, the maze was created by order of the curator at the time, Count de Buffon. The maze has a summer house pavilion in the centre, the oldest metallic building in the world, predating the Eiffel Tower by 100 years. However, as a maze, it leaves much to be desired.
The gardens include four main exhibition structures: the Menagerie, moved from Versailles in 1792, the Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology opened in 1837, the Gallery of Evolution, inaugurated in 1889 and the Gallery of Comparative Anatomy, inaugurated in 1897.
It currently also includes an Alpine garden and a Rose garden.

Opening hours: 8 am to 6.30 pm (5.30 pm Nov.-Jan.)
Entrance free
How to go: Jussieu or Gare Austerlitz metro stations

Nearby:

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