Galerie de Paléontologie et d’Anatomie comparée

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The gallery was designed by Ferdinand Dutert, the same architect responsible for the Galerie des Machines at the 1889 World's Fair.

2. 2

   The collection contains approximately 1,200 vertebrate skeletons, many arranged in a parade-like procession.

3. 3

   The ground floor holds the anatomical collection of Georges Cuvier, the father of paleontology.

4. 4

   The site houses rare taxidermy and skeletal remains of species that have gone extinct in historical times, including the thylacine.

5. 5

   The internal design mimics the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' aesthetic popular in the 19th century, rather than modern minimalist museum displays.

6. 6

   The fossil collection includes significant specimens discovered during 19th-century excavations in South America.

7. 7

   The building's iron and glass structure was an engineering marvel during its late 19th-century construction.

Overview

The Galerie de Paléontologie et d’Anatomie comparée is a historic science museum located within the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. Its collection features over 1,000 skeletons of vertebrates, displayed in a dense, 19th-century cabinet-of-curiosities style. The building, designed by architect Ferdinand Dutert, was constructed specifically for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. The ground floor focuses on comparative anatomy, while the upper floor houses the extensive paleontology collections, including significant dinosaur fossils. Notable displays include a complete mammoth skeleton and the remains of extinct animals like the dodo and the quagga. The museum highlights the evolutionary connections between modern species and their ancestors through articulated bone displays. It serves as a research facility for the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. The architecture features large glass ceilings that provide natural lighting for the exhibits.

Insider tips

• Bring a pair of binoculars to see the details of the specimens mounted high up on the walls and near the vaulted ceiling.

• Focus on the upper floor first, as it houses the most famous dinosaur and prehistoric mammal fossils.

• Allow time to walk through the surrounding Jardin des Plantes after your visit.