I first stumbled on this shop on my previous visit to Paris, when some botanical stationery in the window drew me inside. Little did I know what I was about to find.
Deyrolle is a taxidermy specialist, preserving animal species for zoos, museums, teaching institutions, and even private individuals.
Their display of large animals, birds, insects, butterflies is utterly amazing.
It is like stepping inside a fairytale. As you wind your way through the rooms on the upper level you come face to face with all sorts of exotic creatures.
Sadly there was a bad fire in the building a year or so ago. According to their website much of it has been restored which is wonderful. It really is a very special place.
This was their window display in May. So incredible, but one that also brings mixed emotions, because of the animals who have lost their lives to create these displays.
It's worth a trip across town to visit Deyrolle if you are in Paris. It's in one of my favourite streets - rue du Bac.
oh no, they were real animals!!
Posted by: Carla Valverde | Wednesday, June 02, 2010 at 11:45 AM
That is absoloutly amazing but does trouble the conscience some. Hopefully they all died of natural causes. Still sooo amazing....
Posted by: Elsha | Sunday, June 06, 2010 at 08:00 AM
Incredible, especially the moose.
Posted by: Melissa | Monday, June 07, 2010 at 09:48 AM
i visited a castle in yorkshire that had an annexe filled with their "kills". it was overwhelming after a while, and i had to take a walk around the (beautiful) gardens to recover. i guess it's the only way to see a lot of animals "in real life" though.
Posted by: pen | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 01:26 PM