The Mineralogy Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History in the 5th arrondissement has a superior collection of rocks and minerals — in their words, “among the oldest and most prestigious in the world.”
This gallery, though small, is well worth a visit if you’re into this kind of thing (you know who you are) — especially if you’re already visiting one of the many attractions surrounding and within the Jardin des Plantes, including the Grande Galerie d’Évolution, with over 7,000 specimens, or the Galerie de Paléontologie et d’Anatomie comparée, with over 5,000 fossils. (Walk down the street at the right time of night — when it’s dark outside but the lights are still on — and you can look into its galleries from the sidewalk and see dinosaurs. Magic.)
Here’s what you’ll see at the mineralogy gallery: a fluorite specimen discolored after exposure to ultraviolet light, beautiful liddicoatite, barytine, and California gold. Most of the smaller specimens are in vitrines arranged around twenty large crystals, including some enormous amethysts. It’s all very photogenic, though the fact that so many pieces are behind glass means you’ll often need to contend with reflections.
This is a very old collection, created for the use of Louis XIII in 1635 as part of his stores of medically beneficial crystals and minerals. It first saw public display in 1745, as part of Louis XVI’s Royal Cabinet of Curiosities. Following the French Revolution, that collection of items was eventually re-presented to the public under the auspices of the National Museum of Natural History, where it has remained since.
Two caveats. All of the information cards, which are indeed filled with interesting facts, are in French. And unless you are deeply involved in mineralogy — you might not be here for more than 30-45 minutes, and the entrance fee isn’t cheap at €9. But if you love rocks ‘n’ stuff (like I do), this is a great addition to my personal favorite destination in all of Paris: the always-beautiful Jardin des Plantes.
The Galerie de Minéralogie et de Géologie, 9€
10 – 5, closed on Tuesdays
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