The National Museum of Natural History is situated in Paris, the capital of France.  This is actually more than a large museum, as it combines 3 museums into one.  There is the 4-story taxonomy building, a separate building that concentrates on geology, and a building of skeletons and fossils.

The Paris National Museum of Natural History Overview

The National Museum of Natural History was founded in June 1793.  Its originated in the French Royal Medicinal Plant Garden that was founded in 1635 by King Louis XIII.  The garden was run by royal physicians, until it stopped serving a medical function, was called the King’s Garden, and started to concentrate on natural history. 

This museum is often frequented by school parties and has an amazing array of African animals.  The museum is incredibly large and looks like an airplane hangar in places. One of the favorite sections is the Galerie de Zoologie, which is a huge dark space with dramatically lit multiple tiers of glass and iron balconies.

The museum goes out of its way to make teaching fun and children really enjoy looking at the interactive and model animals. Like most places in Paris, the museum mostly features French signs, although there are some exhibitions that now sport English translations.

The Paris National Museum of Natural History Exhibitions

The National Museum of Natural History has some of the best exhibitions and is right up there with other famous museums like the Smithsonion Institute in Washington London’s British Museum.

The museum has sites throughout the country, including the building where it originated, the French Royal Medicinal Plant Garden. Some galleries include the famous Grand Gallery of Evolution, the Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy & the Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology. The Royal Medicinal Plant Garden and the Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy served as a source of inspiration for French graphic novelist Jacques Tardi, who created graphic novels called ‘Adele and the Beast’. 

The Paris National Museum of Natural History Particulars

You will find this museum at 36 Rue Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, and the closest Metro stop is called Place Monge. 

If you need a hotel room near the museum, you can look at ParisHotels.net. Another option is CheapHotels.org, they have a special section with cheap hotels in Paris.

To reach an English operator, dial 01.4079.56.01. The museum is mostly open from 10 AM to 6 PM, with its doors staying open until 10PM on Thursday nights.  It will cost adults eight euro to get in, whereas children and students with valid cards pay only six euro.