Gallery of Evolution

The Gallery of Evolution is a natural history museum at 36 Rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire in Paris’s 5th arrondissement. Its three floors bring together animals large and small, from fish and insects to whales and deer, with displays of extinct and endangered species. The main hall and carefully arranged exhibits give the collection a strong visual presence, and interactive screens help keep younger visitors engaged. Many exhibit descriptions are in French, so plan to explore the displays visually as well as through their written explanations.

Three floors of animal displays

The Gallery of Evolution is part of the National Museum of Natural History and sits at 36 Rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire in the 5th arrondissement. Its collection ranges from small insects and fish to large mammals, including whales, monkeys and deer. The displays also include extinct and endangered species.

The exhibits are arranged across three floors. The main hall is a key part of the visit, and changes in lighting shape the atmosphere as you move through the collections. The layout gives you room to follow the displays without the visit feeling like a sequence of crowded cases.

Planning your visit

Interactive screens add an accessible element for children, with some content available in multiple languages. Much of the written information beside exhibits is in French, so visitors who do not read French may get more from the specimens and displays than from the labels.

Tickets can be bought at the museum, but advance online booking is recommended to help avoid a wait at the entrance. Arriving early can also mean fewer people in the galleries. Lockers near the entrance provide a place for bags and luggage. The museum has a restaurant, restrooms and a coat check, and its entrance and restrooms are wheelchair accessible.