Page 170 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

168  P ARIS AREA B Y AREA

Buffon and the Jardin des Plantes Grand Imam. It comprises
religious, educational and
At the age of 32, Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707–88), commercial sections; at its heart is
became the curator of the Jardin des Plantes at a time when the a mosque. Each of the mosque’s
study of natural history was at the forefront of domes is decorated differently,
contemporary thought – Charles Darwin’s and the minaret stands nearly
On the Origin of Species was to be published
120 years later. Buffon masterminded the 33 m (100 ft) high. Inside is a
reorganization of the Jardin, propelling it to grand patio with mosaics on the
a pre-eminent position within the scientific walls and tracery on the arches.
world. He was elected to the Académie Once used only by scholars, the
Française in 1752 following the mosque’s place in Parisian life has
publication of his two main works, grown over the years. The Turkish
Natural History and The Epoques of baths are strictly for women only.
Nature. He died in his A tearoom and restaurant serve
house in the Jardin. Moorish specialities.
Illustration of a
primate from Buffon’s
Natural History

6 Rue Mouffetard 7 St-Médard
75005. Map 17 B2. q Censier- 141 Rue Mouffetard 75005. Map 17 B2.
Daubenton, Place Monge. Tel 01 44 08 87 00. q Censier-
Open Market Place Maubert: 7am– Daubenton. Open 8am–12:30pm &
2:30pm Tue, Thu, Sat (to 3pm Sat); Place 2:30–7:30pm Tue–Sat; 9am–12:30pm
Monge: 7am–2:30pm Wed, Fri, Sun (to & 4–8:30pm Sun. 5 various times.
3pm Sun). See Shops and Markets p331. 7 ∑ saintmedard.org
A major thoroughfare since The origins of this church go back
Roman times, when it linked to the 9th century. St Médard, Tiles inside the Grande Mosquée de Paris
Lutetia (Paris) and Rome, this counsellor to the Merovingian
street is one of the oldest in kings, was known for giving a
the city. In the 17th and 18th wreath of white roses to young 9 Muséum National
centuries, it was known as the girls noted for their virtue. The d’Histoire Naturelle
Grande Rue du Faubourg churchyard became notorious in
St-Marcel, and many of its build- the 18th century as the centre of 2 Rue Buffon 75005. Map 17 C2.
ings date from that time. Some the cult of the Convulsionnaires, Tel 01 40 79 54 79 or 01 40 79 54
of the small shops still have whose hysterical fits were 56 01. q Jussieu, Austerlitz.
ancient painted signs, and some brought on by the contem- Open 10am–6pm Wed–Mon.
Closed 1 May. & 7 restricted.
houses have mansard roofs. No. plation of miracle cures. The - = Library. ∑ mnhn.fr
125 has an attractive, restored interior has many fine paintings,
Louis XIII façade, and the entire including the 17th-century Originally a botany research
front of No. 134 has beautiful St Joseph Walking with the Christ centre in the 17th century, the
decoration of wild beasts, Child by Francisco de Zurbarán. museum was founded in 1793
flowers and plants. At No. 60, to include the study of animals.
the Fontaine de Pot-de-Fer is It was the stomping ground
a small fountain dating from 8 Grande Mosquée of naturalists Buffon (see above
Roman times. Later on, it was de Paris left) and Lamarck, whose
connected to an aqueduct research eventually influenced
used by Marie de Médicis to 2 bis Pl du Puits de l’Ermite 75005 Charles Darwin and his On the
take water to the Palais du (Turkish baths/tearoom: 39 Rue Origin of Species.
Luxembourg and its gardens. Geoffrey St-Hilaire). Map 17 C2. Tel The museum has three
The area is known for its 01 45 35 97 33; 01 43 31 14 32 (baths, galleries in the surroundings
tearoom). q Place Monge. Open
open-air markets, especially 9am–noon, 2–6pm. Baths: 9am–9pm of the Jardin des Plantes: the
those in Place Maubert, Place Wed–Mon; tearoom: 9am–midnight Galerie de Minéralogie et de
Monge and Rue Daubenton, daily. Closed Muslim hols. 0 - 8 Géologie, with its crystals, gems
a side street where a lively Library. ∑ mosqueede paris.net and meteorites; the Galeries
African market takes place. Café & baths: ∑ la-mosquee.com d’Anatomie Comparée et de
At night, the street bustles Paléontologie, housing dinosaur
with people enjoying the Greek, Built in the 1920s in the Hispano- skeletons and fossils; and the
Italian, Argentinian and other Moorish style, this complex is the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution,
cuisines on offer at the many spiritual centre for Paris’s Muslim featuring stuffed tigers and
small restaurants. community and the home of the elephants. With more than

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