It's Hallowe'en! And to celebrate here is a special spooky edition of An Au Pair Out And About - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle! How is a natural history museum spooky? Well I'm specifically going to be looking at les Galeries d'Anatomie comparée et de Paléntologie - aka the bone rooms!
Ok, so one of the things which annoys me most about the museums in Paris is how much you have to spend to go to them. I know I have probably been spoiled by spending my student years in London where the majority of Museums are totally free, but it still annoys me. What I find especially annoying about Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle is that you have to spend money several times to get into different galleries. For me that is really too much. However, those of us in possession of a student card and are under 26 (only 2 more weeks of that for me!) will be able to get in at a reduced price to many galleries, and sometimes for free.
Although the main galleries of the natural history museum will cost you money, Galeries d'Anatomie comparée et de Paléntologie are free for under-26s. Being next to the incredibly beautiful Jardins des Plantes means that this is a great way to while away a few hours on a Saturday afternoon.
If you enjoy pretending to command an army of skeletal animals that is.
To me, that sounds like the perfect date...
The immediate impression of les galeries is that this is a very old part of the museum, that hasn't really been redesigned since the middle of last century. The galleries themselves resemble a large school hall with multiple levels. They are not very big, and full of dark wood which adds to the gothic feel of the place. The floor space and the walls are covered in skeletons, or other parts of dead boys, and it does feel a little cluttered. Unlike the main galleries, there are no computer screens, no interactive exhibits, and very little in the way of explanation and information. What you get are glass cases full of bones. And sometimes brains... spooky!
That being said, there is something quite fascinating about all these remains. On the ground floor are skeletons of everything from tiny turtles,
to giant whales,
to buffalo that you sort of wish you could ride into battle
.
On the next floor up is the palaeontology section, which has all the dinosaur bones. And I totally did not hum the Jurassic Park theme whilst standing under the diplodocus.
Dinosaurs are brilliant.
There is even the leg of a woolly mammoth with real hair!
If you are feeling brave, the museum even has a cabinet of 'travesties' - aka abnormally formed foetuses. Because things were just not creepy enough.
And of course a (badly photographed - I apologise) cabinet full of the grinning skeletons of human foetuses. Embrace the macabre!
As you can see, it is not the most contemporary of museum galleries in Paris. I imagine this is a part of the museum that hasn't had some TLC in a long time. It feels a little bit like stepping back in time. However, if you enjoy feeling like you are going into Dr Frankenstein's laboratory, or if you just have a thing for the gothic and the grotesque, then it's pretty enjoyable.
 |
| Bonjour. My name is Pierre, and I am your hell hound guide for today... |
Ok, so one of the things which annoys me most about the museums in Paris is how much you have to spend to go to them. I know I have probably been spoiled by spending my student years in London where the majority of Museums are totally free, but it still annoys me. What I find especially annoying about Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle is that you have to spend money several times to get into different galleries. For me that is really too much. However, those of us in possession of a student card and are under 26 (only 2 more weeks of that for me!) will be able to get in at a reduced price to many galleries, and sometimes for free.
Although the main galleries of the natural history museum will cost you money, Galeries d'Anatomie comparée et de Paléntologie are free for under-26s. Being next to the incredibly beautiful Jardins des Plantes means that this is a great way to while away a few hours on a Saturday afternoon.
If you enjoy pretending to command an army of skeletal animals that is.
To me, that sounds like the perfect date...
The immediate impression of les galeries is that this is a very old part of the museum, that hasn't really been redesigned since the middle of last century. The galleries themselves resemble a large school hall with multiple levels. They are not very big, and full of dark wood which adds to the gothic feel of the place. The floor space and the walls are covered in skeletons, or other parts of dead boys, and it does feel a little cluttered. Unlike the main galleries, there are no computer screens, no interactive exhibits, and very little in the way of explanation and information. What you get are glass cases full of bones. And sometimes brains... spooky!
 |
| Mmmm... braaaaiiins... |
That being said, there is something quite fascinating about all these remains. On the ground floor are skeletons of everything from tiny turtles,
to giant whales,
to buffalo that you sort of wish you could ride into battle
.
 |
| dumm..dudududu dum dum DUM! |
There is even the leg of a woolly mammoth with real hair!
 |
| So many 'bad wax' jokes I could be making. |
If you are feeling brave, the museum even has a cabinet of 'travesties' - aka abnormally formed foetuses. Because things were just not creepy enough.
 |
| Hello, I live in your dreams now... |
And of course a (badly photographed - I apologise) cabinet full of the grinning skeletons of human foetuses. Embrace the macabre!
 |
| They look happy because they know what they are having for dinner. Your screams. |
There is always something fascinating about a room full of skeletons, that I find hard to resist, and as a whole I found the museum to be very interesting. Because everything is piled in together, it is very difficult to break up your visit here. There is no cafe, and the toilets in the basement are very old and small - possibly the most horrifying thing in the whole visit! Considering you can get in for free, and that the surrounding area if full of cosy restaurants to compensate for the lack of cafe, it is a good way to spend some time.
I will give you a fair warning though, fellow au pairs - this may not be the best place to take children. Aside from the lack of computers and interactive exhibits that you find in most museums to distract children, there are also a few graphic 19th century models of dissected animals. I found looking at an orang-utan with its chest cracked open a little difficult, so I would not recommend it for the little ones. But If you are looking to rustle up some fearful frights for the grown ups this weekend, or an excuse to cuddle up with some one special, this is the place for you!
Joyeux Hallowe'en tout le monde! Stay Spooky!
Joyeux Hallowe'en tout le monde! Stay Spooky!
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