Paris is full of zoological displays, but few capture the dazzling strangeness of the natural world quite like the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (Museum of Hunting and Nature). Housed inside two historic 17th- and 18th-century mansions in the Marais, the museum offers room after room of bizarre taxidermy, drawers of (fake) poop, and contemporary art installations that are by turns whimsical, scary, and thought-provoking. While the museum’s name might suggest otherwise, it doesn’t celebrate hunting so much as it creatively inspects humanity’s complex relationship with nature.
Location
Address: 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris, France
The museum is located in the 3rd arrondissement in the Marais. The closest metro stops are Rambuteau (Line 11), Hôtel de Ville (Lines 1 & 11), and Arts et Métiers (Lines 3 & 11).
Hours: Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Thursday – Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Cost: €13
What’s Nearby?
The Marais is an extremely walkable and cool part of Paris. There are dozens of charming cafes, shops, museums and parks within a stone’s throw. Here are just a few:
- Marché des Enfants Rouges – The oldest covered market in Paris, just a few blocks away. Great for grabbing lunch at one of the food stalls or picking up a fresh pastry.
- Musée Picasso – Just a 10-minute walk and home to a fantastic collection of the artist’s works in a gorgeous hôtel particulier.
- Place des Vosges – A perfect square of beauty and symmetry, ideal for a picnic or people-watching. About a 15-minute stroll away.