Museum of Hunting and Nature

"It doesn’t often make the top ten list for travelers, but it should: the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (the Hunting and Nature Museum) has occupied a hotel particulier since 1967. Since then, it has showcased the collection of François Sommer, a leading hunter and friend of André Malraux, a novelist and former French minister of cultural affairs who inaugurated the museum. The collection examines the relationship between humans and the living world through the lens and historical traditions of hunting. Visitors are invited to consider how the human perception of wildlife has evolved over time. After a two-year renovation, the museum reopened in 2021 with additional exhibition space. Given the intimate nature of the space, you could conceivably visit the permanent collection within an hour but we recommend allowing for more time—you'll want to linger quite a while in the trophy room." - Lindsey Tramuta, Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

"One of the great joys of Paris is its wealth of niche museums, and there’s nowhere greater—or more atmospheric—in that regard than the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, the museum of hunting and nature that is tucked away in a spectacularly beautiful hôtel particulier in the heart of Le Marais. The deliciously macabre displays of taxidermy are a highlight, but the museum also manages to avoid feeling too fusty by bringing in contemporary artists to produce works in conversation with its collections, from Sterling Ruby to Jeff Koons. No matter how many times you go, there’s always something there to surprise you." - Elise Taylor

"Lions and tigers and bears…oh my, this museum has everything for the aspiring naturalist. Examining the relationship of human and animal throughout history, original displays of classic and contemporary art mingle with taxidermic animals, rifle collections, and archives in a 17th-century mansion. Visitors, especially kids, will love opening the wooden drawers to find contents like scat and paw-print samples, or hunting down a trompe l’oeil mousehole. Founded by the François Sommer Foundation, the museum is committed to promoting the global discussion about our environment. The result is a compelling selection of temporary exhibitions, conferences, and events that change with the seasons."