Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Natural history museum in the 5th arrondissement, Paris, France

The Muséum national d'histoire naturelle is a natural history museum and botanical garden located in the Jardin des Plantes in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France. The site includes exhibition halls for skeletons and minerals, a biodiversity center, several greenhouses housing tropical and desert plants, plus outdoor areas with themed gardens and old trees.

The institution was created in 1793 during the Revolution from the Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants, which Louis XIII had established in 1635. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the institution grew through expeditions and donations that brought together collections from all continents.

The botanical garden serves as a public space for recreation and learning, where visitors walk among plant beds and observe scientific collections. Many Parisians use the grounds for jogging or breaks, while school groups visit the greenhouses and outdoor areas for educational purposes.

The site lies between the Seine and Gare d'Austerlitz and is easy to reach on foot or by metro. Paths in the garden are mostly flat, while some buildings have stairs, but ramps or lifts often provide alternatives for wheelchair users.

The zoology gallery, begun in 1877 and finished in 1889 for the Revolution's centenary, was paid for out of the museum's own budget, which then ran short of funds. The strain pushed the institution to scale back its teaching and concentrate on research and its collections.