Established in 1635, this is one of the world's earliest botanic gardens, initially built to grow medicinal herbs and other exotic plants starting to arrive in Europe from overseas explorations.

Today it is both a green and restful retreat from the bustle of a global capital city as well as a botanical centre of excellence and learning, claiming to be at the cutting edge of research and science.

But most come to visit for the beautiful extended walkways, lined with shady trees and dotted with an abundance of park benches for the visitor to sit and contemplate some very attractive plantings and ancient trees.

There are around two and a half acres of intensely planted botanical example gardens along with a pretty Alpine garden and plenty of open space to wander freely enjoying seasonal flowers and shrubs.

A recent addition in 1990 was a Rose garden that celebrates some of the best of France's contribution to rose breeding, which is of course very substantial.

There is a small menagerie which was first created to house animals liberated from private collections after the revolution.

However, unlike many such gardens, Jardin de Plantes also contains a collection of some of France's most prestigious museums, celebrating biodiversity and geodiversity. 

These include the french Natural History Museum, the Gallery of Evolution, Gallery of Zoology, Gallery of Mineralogy and Geology, Gallery of Paleontology and of course the Gallerie de Botanique which also contains the national Herbarium, which is the biggest in the world.

This is a focal point for world botany, with hundreds of trainees going out into the world to use their skills to further the preservation of our unique bio-heritage. 

They also construct demonstration gardens and operate a huge seed bank, actively exchanging with other such institutions around the world.

But if you see how Parisians use it, then you can understand how important it is to have lush open spaces in city centres, where people, who perhaps do not have a personal garden of their own, can just kick back and relax amongst the best that nature has created.