location of a wine market set up by Napoleon. It is home to most of the Sorbonne’s faculty of sciences. Soon after it opened it became apparent that a much bigger campus was needed, so architect Edouard Albert designed this rigid grid of 6-storey blocks in 1964. They sit on stilts over a massive slab

containing an underground car park and some of the campus’ ancillary facilities.

The Collection des Minéraux de l’Université (University’s Mineral Collection) is a small but fascinating museum housed in the main building at No. 4 Place Jussieu. The collection comprises precious stones, both cut and uncut, as well as rock crystal from around the world. These are displayed to maximum effect by the use of clever lighting.

Collection des Minéraux de l’Université

Opening times: 1–6pm Wed–Mon
Closed 1 Jan, Easter, 1 May, 14 Jul, 1 Nov, 25 Dec
Tel: 01. 44 27 52 88

Zamansky Tower

Jardin des Plantes

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