
All year. Open every day from 10h to 18h except Tuesdays, 25th December, 1st January and 1st May
Attention : last admission to the exhibitions takes place 45 minutes before closing
Free tickets can be collected at the entrance desk on the day of the visit and their holders cannot skip entrance lines.
The Grand Gallery of Evolution preserves the historical collections of the Gallery of Zoology. Opened in 1889, the Gallery intended to witness the triumphs of the French Republic and its colonial empire, but it was closed in 1965 and the collections were seemingly forgotten. However, the National Museum of Natural History has rediscovered the collection and provided an impressively renovated architectural setting. Welcoming millions of visitors every year, it has established a worldwide reputation.
Permanent collections
The permanent collections are like an oasis of peace at the heart of Paris. On the ground floor, the famous African caravan features 63 specimens and allows visitors to travel back through the centuries. Around the balconies and other floors, guests encounter insects, fish, birds and other mammals - all placed in living postures which capture the imagination and bring these exotic animals back to life. But while they seem lifelike, many of these creatures have been on display for almost 200 years, and they continue to enchant those who wander through the halls of the Grand Gallery of Evolution.