Le Jardin des plantes   

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The creation of the Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden) goes back to 1626, during the reign of Louis XIII. It was the work of two of the King's Doctors, Jean Héroard and Guy de la Brosse. Buffon, the curator from 1739 until 1788, expanded and considerably enriched the garden, with the help of Daubenton. The garden was saved during the Convention, and it got the name of "Museum of Natural History". Such famous naturalists as Lacépède, Cuvier, Becquerrel, and Lamarck contributed to its progress and development. Aside from the botanical gardens themselves, the Jardin des Plantes also has a menagerie, a remainder of the old royal menagerie.