The Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) are back in Paris, and everyone's on the lookout for a great deal for this exceptional weekend. It's often the children's favorite museum, and with good reason: the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle has something for every curious mind , with its sensational exhibitions, impressive permanent collections, activities and numerous areas dedicated to the science of life. So when the time comes to find out more about this must-see place and its treasures, there's no question of missing out.
As every year, the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle and the Jardin des Plantes are taking part in the European Heritage Days to highlight our natural heritage, from flora to fauna.
Over the weekend of September 19 and 20, 2026, the stunning Jardin des Plantes and the museum’s library take pride of place. A range of tours and activities invites visitors to explore these captivating spaces that may surprise you. Herbariums, taxidermied animals, sculptures and works of art, scientific writings, natural rocks, tools, photographs, rare plants... The Muséum’s collections come in many forms.
Patrice Alexandre Exhibition in Dialogue with François Pompon
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, discover the dialogue between the works of sculptor Patrice Alexandre and those of François Pompon. The pieces by this major figure in animal sculpture are kept in the Muséum's collections. Patrice Alexandre has maintained a privileged link with the Jardin des plantes since 1989, where he installed his work Hommage à Saint-John Perse on the slopes of the Grand Labyrinthe. He returns in 2026 with a series of terracotta sculptures inspired by Pompon's animal menagerie.
Hippo, great horned owl, rabbits, bears, and even elephants: Patrice Alexandre's animals respond to Pompon's clean, iconic silhouettes, offering a sensitive encounter between two sculptors' perspectives, from Art Deco to contemporary creation.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservations required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Intro to Clay Sculpting Workshop
Get started with clay modeling and discover the essential techniques of sculpture. In tandem with the exhibition Patrice Alexandre in dialogue with François Pompon, this workshop invites kids and adults alike to shape their own animal, drawing on the simple, expressive forms of the two artists’ bestiary.
A 3-hour workshop.
Open to everyone aged 10 and up.
Participation requirements: Free with registration. Maximum of 10 spots. Workshop registrations open on September 2. - Free | Registration mandatory - http://eventbrite.fr
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 2:00 PM–5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 2:00 PM–5:00 PM
Digital scavenger hunt: "The Botanist's Mysterious Disappearance"
Panic at the Jardin des Plantes! A botanist from the National Museum of Natural History has vanished without a trace, leaving colleagues deeply worried. What happened? What could she have been researching? And most urgently, where could she be? Using your smartphone, join the search to crack the mystery and uncover the Garden’s secrets with an autonomous, family-friendly, or group-friendly scavenger hunt.
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, Garden opening hours
From age 6
Free of charge
Smartphone required
Digital scavenger hunt to be completed on the Baludik app via the QR Code on the following page: https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/fr/animation/les-parcours-en-autonomie-dans-le-jardin#l-etrange-disparition-de-la-botaniste
Participation requirements: A smartphone is required: a digital scavenger hunt to be completed on the Baludik app via the link in the description — Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 08:00 ⤏ 19:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 - 08:00 ⤏ 19:00
Digital scavenger hunt: "Apprentice sculptors at the Jardin des Plantes"
To mark the Jardin’s 400th anniversary, the drawing and modeling professor, Mr. Poupom, is charged with creating a new sculpture to install in the garden. But he’s swamped and he wants to entrust you with the mission! Armed with your smartphone, you’ll need to track down the artworks and also complete playful tasks to prove your budding talents as sculptors. Whether you’re alone, with family, or with friends, set off to discover the Jardin des Plantes’ sculptures and their secrets with this digital scavenger hunt.
On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, during the Garden’s opening hours.
From 6 years old.
Requires a smartphone.
Digital scavenger hunt to be completed on the Baludik app via the QR Code on the following page: https://www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/fr/animation/les-parcours-en-autonomie-dans-le-jardin#apprentis-sculpteurs-et-sculptrices-au-jardin-des-plantes
Participation conditions : Requires a smartphone: a digital scavenger hunt conducted through the Baludik app via the link in the description – Free
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 08:00 to 18:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 08:00 to 18:00
A literary and historical stroll through the Garden
### A guided tour to uncover the history and purpose of the Jardin des Plantes, woven with carefully chosen literary excerpts.
Did you know the Jardin des Plantes has stood for more than four centuries? That it has borne other names throughout its history? That at its creation, it wasn’t located in the heart of Paris, but in one of its rougher suburbs?
Join us as we explore its history, its mysteries, and its anecdotes, alongside passages by Jean-Baptiste Pujoulx, who published in 1804 his very own visitor’s guide to the Jardin.
On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
Meet at the welcome desk of the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution.
Adults.
Free, on-site registration (subject to availability).
Participation conditions: Free, on-site registration (subject to availability), check-in at the reception of the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution - Free | No reservations required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 11:00 ⤏ 12:30 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 - 11:00 ⤏ 12:30
Family-guided tours at the Jardin des Plantes: "The Time-Traveling Tree"
### An investigative tour in search of the Garden’s oldest tree. Ready for a jump back in time?
Climb aboard the time-travel tree! This kid-friendly, mystery-driven visit takes children on a genuine journey through time as they hunt for the Jardin des Plantes’ oldest tree. With a playful activity booklet and a science guide at their side, young explorers will observe, question, and uncover clues to locate the tree and uncover the garden’s secrets and history.
Children participate in the tour accompanied by an adult.
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 11:00 AM
Meet at the reception desk of the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution
For ages 6 and up
Free, registration on site (subject to availability)
Participation requirements: Free of charge, on-site registration (subject to availability); please report to the reception desk at the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution.
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 ⤏ 12:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 ⤏ 12:00
What better way to get out and about in one of the capital's most beautiful settings? Who's up for an exciting weekend with the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle and the Jardin des Plantes?
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
National Museum of Natural History
57 Rue Cuvier
75005 Paris 5
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.mnhn.fr
