The « Ménagerie » (1793) is the second eldest zoo in the world and is located in the « Jardin des Plantes » close to the center of Paris. This place is classified as being National Treasure (patrimoine des monuments historiques) and is somewhat forgotten.
In this series I would like to show a overview highlighting part of its particular architecture and a view of its inhabitants.
The still existing buildings are more then 2 centuries for the eldest and up to the beginning of XX° for some of them. The first ones called « fabrique » are inspired by the Queen House in Versailles and the last ones are larger and « Art déco » inspired.
There are no more big and spectacular animals but a part of them are in danger and included in conservations programs shared by zoos with goal to maintain populations of animals able to be reintroduced.
With these pictures, I would like to invite to rediscover this ancient and specific place with both sides, the buildings and the animals.
