5th Arrondissement: Jardin des Plantes, Grandes Serres and Panthéon
Accommodation in 5th Arrondissement
When looking for a hotel in the 5th Arrondissement, nature, architecture and French cultural heritage can influence your choice of neighborhood. Jardin des Plantes combines botanical themes with historic greenhouses; the Panthéon offers its own focus on remembrance. These places represent different interests and ways to visit. Looking at their specific highlights can help you plan your stay around what you would like to explore in more depth.
Botanical perspectives at Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes was founded in the 17th century and is the historic heart of the Muséum. Its garden areas offer different perspectives: in the Jardin alpin, you can explore the world's mountain ranges. The Jardin écologique is a protected enclave showcasing the diversity of natural habitats in the Paris Basin. Looking at both areas brings the contrast into focus: mountain landscapes from around the world sit alongside the habitats of a particular natural region. Access to the Jardin écologique is possible only as part of a guided tour. As arrangements may change, check the current details before your visit.
Greenhouses between architecture and plant history
The buildings of the Grandes Serres du Jardin des Plantes that are visible today were constructed between 1834 and 1876. The combination of metal and glass marked a turning point. These dates place the architecture in its historical context; the combination of materials points to an architectural shift. Plant evolution is also given its own focus: one greenhouse in the complex traces it from the colonization of the land to the emergence of flowering plants. Two themes thus come together—the history of construction and the evolution of plants. The Grandes Serres are accessible via the Jardin des Plantes Batobus stop. If you plan to use this connection to get there, check the latest route details beforehand.
The menagerie and depictions of nature
The Menagerie at Jardin des Plantes was founded in 1794. You can explore its enclosures and buildings independently along the paths; access is via two entrances from the paths of Jardin des Plantes in the 5th Arrondissement. For planning purposes, the difference from the Jardin écologique is clear: here, you explore enclosures and buildings independently along the paths, while access there is limited to guided tours. The Grande Galerie de l’Évolution offers another focus: it displays more than 7,000 lifelike specimens.
The Panthéon and its guided tour program
Since 1885, the Panthéon has been the final resting place of prominent figures of the French nation. This adds a place of national remembrance to the botanical and natural history themes. Guided tours with talks are regularly offered at the Panthéon. The program may change; if a tour is part of your plans, check the dates in advance. This allows you to consider the site's historical focus and the interpretation format on offer separately when making your plans.
Discover more destinations: 7th Arrondissement, Paris 11, Gobelins, 9th Arrondissement Paris, Ménilmontant, Paris 16, 15th Arrondissement, Paris 8
Return to the main travel overview: Paris.
