Jardin des Plantes in Paris: the illuminations

An experience not to be missed

After exploring themes such as the Jurassic era, the Jungle, Mini-Worlds, and Evolution through previous editions of En Voie d’Illumination, this season the Jardin des Plantes invites visitors to a completely new kind of nocturnal immersion with “Lumières de la Nature”. This luminous journey reinterprets natural phenomena through a spectacular lens. Designed for all audiences, the experience blends wonder, scientific accuracy, and cutting-edge technology, all within one of Paris’s most iconic settings.

A radiant exploration of terrestrial, marine, and celestial worlds

For the 7th edition of En Voie d’Illumination, the National Museum of Natural History dedicates its nighttime route to the natural luminous phenomena that animate our planet. The bioluminescence of marine organisms, the fluorescence of minerals, volcanic glows, celestial incandescence—what once belonged solely to specialized documentaries now takes on a full-scale, accessible, and elegantly crafted form. Behind the poetic scenes and playful staging lies a close collaboration with the Museum’s researchers, ensuring a stroll that is both enchanting and educational. It is a fresh way of discovering nature, with one foot firmly on the ground and one’s eyes lifted toward the stars.

A technological showcase in service of science

The Jardin des Plantes unveils an ambitious visual arrangement: monumental holograms, video mapping, immersive projections, UV lighting, LED panels, and interactive installations guide the whole experience. The aim is simple: to reveal phenomena that are often invisible to the naked eye and offer visitors a rare sensory dive into the luminous mechanisms of the living world.

Four immersive worlds for a luminous world tour

Mineral Lights

In this first section, minerals reveal a surprising new dimension. Fluorescent specimens scanned in 3D, genuine multi-kilogram fluorites unveiled from the reserves and illuminated under UV light, and even a six-meter volcano erupting in a controlled display. An elegant reminder that the Earth shines through its hidden secrets as well.

Terrestrial Lights

The journey continues through forests where plants, fungi, and terrestrial animals come alive with unexpected glows. Trees transformed into fantastical silhouettes, animal tracks guiding the path, and the Great Greenhouse illuminated from every angle combine to create a living tableau infused with both mystery and softness.

Marine Lights

Next stop: the abyss, where most organisms rely on light to communicate and defend themselves. A brand-new animated film projected onto the façade of the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution plunges visitors into the underwater world alongside a small lanternfish, before a large-scale hologram reveals marine species rarely seen by human eyes.

Celestial Lights

The route concludes under a sky filled with spectacular phenomena: thunderstorms, shooting stars, northern lights, and a brilliant full moon. A genuine 420-kg meteorite, displayed outdoors for the very first time, completes the experience—an elegant reminder that nature’s spectacle extends far beyond our atmosphere.

After the magic of the illuminations, retreat to Hôtel FABRIC

After such a luminous journey, nothing beats a haven of comfort to round off the evening. Hôtel Fabric, located just a short distance from the Jardin des Plantes, welcomes guests into a warm and refined atmosphere, perfectly suited to a Parisian stay focused on discovery.

Book your tickets for the exhibition. An ideal activity for the festive season, a memorable family outing, or a moment of pause to rekindle one’s sense of wonder. This year’s edition of Lumières de la Nature promises to make Parisian evenings shine with elegance and poetry.

Practical Information

• From 25 November to 18 January 2026
• Wednesday to Sunday, 6 pm to 10 pm
• Last entry at 9 pm

Photo ©Mathieu Stern - Unsplash