Jardin des Plantes (Garden of the Plants), Paris

Opened to the public in 1640, formerly dubbed the Jardin du Roi ("King's Garden"), this sprawling expanse of verdant beauty is a coveted jewel of the neighborhood; an idyllic locale in which to relish a serene picnic repast or to repose upon one of the many shaded benches and recharge one's weary soles.

The botanical and rose gardens are a sight to behold, their grandeur leaving an indelible impression upon the hearts of horticultural enthusiasts. A must-see attraction are the towering greenhouses, known as "serres" in the French tongue, which shelter within their glass walls one of the most extensive compilations of tropical and desert flora in the world.

For visitors with little ones in tow, the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, an outstanding natural history museum, is a site of wonderment and awe for its gargantuan whale skeletons and diverse taxidermic specimens. Alternatively, one may choose to explore the Galerie de Paléontologie, brimming with prehistoric remnants such as dinosaur skeletons, or the recently refurbished Galerie de Minéralogie.

Animal lovers would be remiss not to venture into the Ménagerie, a modest zoo established in 1794 that played a vital role in sustaining the besieged Parisians during the tumultuous period of the Prussian siege in 1870.