Blind and visually-impaired visitors

For more information, do not hesitate to contact the public reception service at info-accessibilite [@] mnhn.fr

There are no specific measures in place at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes to help guide visually-impaired visitors The presence of a carer is recommended.

Little seating provided.

Most of the visit circuit is outside but part of the visit takes place inside the buildings (big cat house, reptile house, etc.).

Please note:

• small metal gate at the entrance (it opens easily and is not dangerous but there is no ground marking)
• uneven surface at times along the path (holes and bumps)

There are no specific measures in place at the Galerie de Minéralogie to help guide visually-impaired visitors The presence of a carer is recommended.

There are a dozen or so steps without a handrail to negotiate at the entrance to the building as well as two steps between the reception hall and the exhibition space.

Please note:

• Some areas of the exhibition can be relatively dark.
• Little seating is provided in the Trésors de la Terre (Treasures of the Earth) exhibition space.
• It is not possible to touch exhibits when not on a guided tour (except as part of a specific session led by one of the Museum’s guides), but it is possible to get relatively close to some of the exhibits, particularly the giant crystals. However, many exhibits are behind glass.

There are no specific measures in place at the Galerie de Paléontologie et d’Anatomie comparée to help guide visually-impaired visitors. The presence of a carer is recommended.

Please note: there are a lot of steps in the building.

During the day, natural light floods through the windows making it easier for visually-impaired visitors to enjoy the displays and read the panels and labels.

There is little seating in the exhibition spaces. The upper floors can only be reached by the stairs.

Please note:

• It is not possible to touch exhibits and specimens but it is possible to get relatively close to most of the exhibits. Some exhibits are not behind glass.
• The stairs are not yet fitted with stair nosings or tactile warning strips. The large monumental stairway to the upper floor is fitted with traditional-style handrail.
• Many of the labels are old labels that the visually impaired will find hard to read. They are intended to add to the “spirit of the place”.

There are no specific measures in place at the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution and at the la Galerie des Enfants to help guide visually-impaired visitors. The presence of a carer is recommended.

Two entrances can be used to access the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution:

• via 36 rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire:
• Please note the presence of a small step of less than 2 cm at the gate to the forecourt from the street. The pavement runs almost continuously up to this entrance from the Jussieu metro station, with just one street to cross: la rue Cuvier. The “Buffon - La Mosquée" bus stop is also very near this entrance.
• via the Jardin des Plantes.

The entrance doors are heavy to open, but a security guard is always on hand inside to help you if need be (the doors have glass in them so the guard can see visitors outside). During very busy periods, priority entrance (indicated by a sign) to the right of the main entrance.

Numerous benches (without backs or armrests) are provided throughout the exhibition spaces.

Access to the upper floors is possible via stairs or lifts.

Please note:

• the Grande Galerie is a very dimly-lit exhibition space.
• Visitors are not allowed to touch exhibits or specimens (this is only possible as part of a guided tour with one of the museum’s guides). However, most of the time it is possible to get up close to the objects on display. Many of the objects are not behind glass.
• The stairways are not yet fitted with stair nosing or tactile warning strips; they all have handrails;
• the underneaths of the two stairways in the exhibition space, leading from the ground floor (marine environments) to the first floor (land environments) are not marked on the ground;
• access to the temporary exhibition in the basement from the ground-floor is available using the reserved-access lift: ask at the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution reception.

Le Cabinet de Réalité virtuelle is not accessible to visually-impaired visitors.

There are no specific measures in place at the Jardin des Plantes and the Grandes Serres to help guide visually-impaired visitors.

The presence of a carer is recommended. For visitors who tire easily, there are numerous benches throughout the site.

The large number of entrances at various locations means problem areas can be avoided (steep slopes, narrow pathways).

The Jardin des Plantes visitor reception centre is located at the Place Valhubert entrance, to the left of the entrance as you face the Jardin. For additional information, please ask at the reception desks (and/or ticket booths) of the various sites you are going to visit.

However, in the Grandes Serres the visually-impaired visitors can use their sticks to guide them by following the concrete rim running along the edge of the path. Nevertheless, the absence of specific measures to help guide visually-impaired visitors means that visiting the Grandes serres on their own is likely to be difficult. The presence of a carer is recommended.

Access to the entrance porch is via the monumental stairway (access via fifteen steps, with no handrail), or using the lift to the right of the flight of steps.

Should the lift be out of order and you wish to avoid using the stairs, ask a security officer to lead you into the greenhouses via another entrance on the same level.

Seating is not provided in the greenhouses.

Access to the upper part of the greenhouses is either via some steps, or a lift accessible from inside the building, at the far end of the desert greenhouse.

Please note:

• Access to the steps to reach the upper level (serre de Nouvelle-Calédonie - New Caledonia greenhouse) is via the “Rocher” (Rock) entrance, which has a rounded section at face level and sticks out over the path (the Rock is listed as a Historic Monument).
• The steps themselves have contrasting stair nosings but they are located in a narrow passageway.
• The handrail alongside the steps incorporates lighting to light up a section of the stairway to compensate for the relative darkness of the passageway.
• At the top of the steps, there is a passageway that can only be crossed using stepping stones. It is possible to hold onto the handrail to cross, but the area is very dimly-lit.
• It is strongly recommended to take the lift to reach the upper level.

Groups

Parking authorised on request only for a maximum of two disability vehicles within the Jardin des Plantes site. The request must be submitted at least 48 hours prior to your visit to resamuseum [@] mnhn.fr.

Individuals

There is no visitor car park at the Jardin des Plantes (Garden of Plants).

Would you like to visit in a group? Reservations are required online at reservationgroupe.mnhn.fr