Galerie des Enfants du Muséum (Children’s Gallery)

The whole family is welcome, but the Children's Gallery is first and foremost the territory of 6-12 year olds. A place of wonder and learning designed for them, which they are immersed in as soon as they enter. There are no plastic animals here, and above all, no unpleasant devices. The hands-on artists have a field day, while others act as guides. Scientific information is displayed on large glass petals that accompany you throughout your visit. Welcome to a condensed world of 530 m2.

The visit begins in Paris, so you are on familiar ground. Well, almost, because who would have thought that Paname is home to a wide variety of animals and plants? The kestrel nesting at the top of Notre-Dame, the pungent thorn-bush taking advantage of the crevice of a wall to develop, the hedgehog scampering around a square and all kinds of creatures living in our homes. Unbeknownst to us, nature is everywhere in the streets: children and parents learn about it while having fun. Animated wardrobe, virtual magnifying glass, musical memory... it's up to them to play.

The tour continues in a second micro-environment: the Bassée, an alluvial plain crossed by the Seine, between Troyes and Montereau. The river, a transparent table, hosts naturalized specimens and animations. Who can catch this virtual fish? Who can recognise this bird in the viewfinder? Admire these aquatic species or the fascinating metamorphosis of a dragonfly. Further on, fishermen testify to the changes that have occurred over the years in the ecosystems presented. Yes, there are many interactions between plants, aquatic animals and humans. We must be vigilant.

From the Seine valley, we head for Brazil, where we go deep into the tropical forest. We meet the Kayapó, the Amazonian Indians. Five short sequences reveal the life of a child: village, house, school, games, food. Discover large mammals lurking in the shadows - jaguar, peccary. Just slip your feet into their footprints. The same lighting effect reveals the fauna of the creek, a spectacled caiman, a fishing bat or even a piranha. Look up to the upper level, where the animals of the canopy are watching you: parrots, sloths and boas seem almost alive.