Galeries d'Anatomie Comparee et de Paleontologie in Jardin des Plantes
The Galeries of Comparable Anatomy and Palaeontology are a museum linked with the Natural History Museum in Paris, which is located within the Jardin des Plantes and from dinosaur skeletons to plant fossils, there is so much to discover.
About Galeries d'Anatomie Comparee et de Paleontologie
The Galeries of Comparative Anatomy and Palaeontology were created by Georges Pouchet who was a Professor of Comparative Anatomy and Albert Gaudry who was a Professor of Palaeontology, as they both wished to preserve a wide variety of specimens and then be able to present these to the public.
The collections themselves derived from numerous expeditions by naturalists, mainly from the 18th century and 19th century, yet also included animal skeletons from the Menagerie Zoo within the Jardin des Plants, plus the famous piece being the skeleton of a rhinoceros that had belonged to King Louis XV.
The Galeries d'Anatomie Comparee et de Paleontologie were then housed in a building that was designed by the architect Ferdinand Dutert, which is made of red brick, glass and steel, and this was first opened in 1898 in readiness for the 1900 World Fair in Paris.
Situated within the Jardin des Plantes, this is part of the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle where you can also discover the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution, which is in a completely separate building, yet at the same location in the historical botanical gardens.
You will find that one floor of this particular Paris museum is purely dedicated to Comparative Anatomy, whereas the upper floor is dedicated to Palaeontology and there is one gallery decorated with numerous sculptures that is almost 80 metres in length, plus there is a mezzanine on the top level around the gallery.
So here, within this incredible museum in Paris you will be able to discover fossils dating back as far as 500 plus million years ago, the age of dinosaurs with some incredible skeletons, a giant crocodile with its enormous and scary looking teeth, along with a whale specimen that measures over 20 metres long.
You could discover numerous skeletons from species of animals that are now extinct or exceedingly rare along with a wide variety of different species from fish to reptiles and mammals to birds.
Plus on the mezzanine level, which was refurbished in 2013, a part of this area is now dedicated to plant fossils, so as you can tell, the Galeries d'Anatomie Comparee et de Paleontologie is a great museum for all the family to visit and learn more about past living creatures or those you would still recognise today.
Visiting Galeries d'Anatomie Comparee et de Paleontologie in Paris
We have already mentioned that the Galeries d'Anatomie Comparee et de Paleontologie is a part of the Natural History Museum located within the Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens, and this is situated in the 5th Arrondissement of Paris close to the River Seine.
But as well as the Comparable Anatomy and Palaeontology galleries there are numerous other tourist attractions in Paris located right here including a Menagerie Zoo, not forgetting those nearby and within a very short walk such as the Natural History Museum we mentioned earlier, along with the Minerology Museum, etc.
You will find that the Galeries d'Anatomie Comparee et de Paleontologie is open from 10am through to 5pm on a Monday and on a Wednesday through to a Sunday, however, it is always closed on a Tuesday and on certain other National French holidays such as 1st May. Plus we would like to point out that latest time you can purchase a ticket is 45 minutes before closing time.
As of 2020, the cost is €9, but it is free for those that are disabled and for children aged 3 and under, yet those aged between 4 and 18, or under 25 if a student, can get a reduced cost ticket, which is €6 as of 2020, but these are only applicable upon providing proof of eligibility.
However, if you wish to discover other areas of the Jardin des Plantes such as the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution, then if you present your full price ticket from this museum, you can get a reduction on the cost of entry to other attractions located here.
Access to Galeries d'Anatomie Comparee et de Paleontologie
Now when it comes to getting here via public transport in Paris, being such a popular tourist attraction, there are numerous different ways that will get you close by, such as the Batobus, which is the water bus shuttle service that has a stop very close by to the Jardin des Plantes on the River Seine.
You will find that the nearest Metro stations are the Gare d’Austerlitz stop via lines 5 and 10, the Censier - Daubenton stop via line 7 or the Jussieu stop via lines 7 and 10. However the RER station serving line C is also located at the Gare d’Austerlitz train station, but on the opposite bank you have the Gare de Lyon train station as well.
Alternatively, you have the Paris bus lines 24, 57, 61, 63, 67, 89, 91 and 215 along with the Noctilien Night Bus Service via Lines N01, N02 and N31 that will also get you near to this museum, not forgetting the bus tours in Paris such as the company called l’OpenTour that will still get you within walking distance.
Yet if you are fit enough and enjoy cycling, then the Velib self service bike rental in Paris could be a good option, and there are a couple of bike stations right nearby, although if you have your own vehicle, then you will be pleased to know that there are two public car parks located close to the Galeries of Comparative Anatomy and Palaeontology museum.
