Ride this one-of-a-kind vintage carousel featuring handcrafted endangered species mounts rather than traditional horses.
Why Visit: A playful yet thought-provoking way to reflect on conservation and biodiversity.
For Those Who: Love carousels, appreciate artistic approaches to environmental issues, believe in inspiring future generations.
Nestled in the Jardin des Plantes, this restored 19th-century carousel with a conservationist twist delights kids while educating them about endangered wildlife. In place of generic horses, its mounts are crafted into meticulous replicas of threatened and extinct species.
Climb aboard hand-carved and painted figures of animals like the Java rhino, roc bird, quagga zebra, or Steller's sea cow, brought to life through imagination and artistry. Gaze up at suspended replicas of extinct birds fluttering above as the carousel spins.
While enjoyable as a charming historic carousel, its special mounts transform the ride into a voyage through vanishing biodiversity and species now lost, spurring contemplation of humanity's impacts. It is a clever way to inspire wonder and care for the natural world from a young age.
What You Need to Know: The carousel is located in the Jardin des Plantes, operating spring through fall. Tickets are 3-4 Euros per ride.
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