Maison Deyrolle, founded in 1831 by the passionate naturalist and entomologist Jean-Baptiste Deyrolle, is a Parisian institution unparalleled worldwide. Housed since 1888 at 46 rue du Bac, in a private mansion in Paris's 7th arrondissement, it shelters one of the most extraordinary existing cabinets of curiosities. Across two floors, thousands of taxidermied specimens – lions, polar bears, giraffes, zebras, butterflies, beetles, minerals, and shells – coexist in a décor of antique woodwork, mahogany display cases, and crystal chandeliers. Deyrolle is simultaneously a shop, a living museum, and a place for contemplation.
Deyrolle's history is marked by tragedy and rebirth. On February 1, 2008, a devastating fire ravaged the first floor of the shop, destroying hundreds of irreplaceable specimens, some dating back to the 19th century. The response was immediate and spectacular: donors from around the globe, artists like Damien Hirst, luxury houses such as Hermès and Louis Vuitton, and anonymous patrons contributed to the reconstruction. Within eighteen months, Deyrolle reopened its doors with a restored and enriched collection. This collective rescue effort reinforced the house's mythical status.
Today, led by Prince Louis Albert de Broglie, who acquired the house in 2001, Deyrolle has reinvented itself around a mission: education about nature and biodiversity preservation. Prince de Broglie, a committed entrepreneur and organic farmer, has transformed Deyrolle into an environmental education platform. The famous "Deyrolle educational charts" – those cream-backed scientific illustrations that adorned the schools of the Republic – have been reissued and have become prized collector's items, sold in design boutiques worldwide. Deyrolle also publishes books, organizes travelling exhibitions, and collaborates with schools to raise children's awareness of ecology.
Deyrolle is also a place for artistic creation. Contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst, Billie Achilleos, Claire Morgan, and Isabelle de Borchgrave have exhibited their works there, in dialogue with the natural history collections. The house has collaborated with luxury brands – Hermès for a collection of silk scarves inspired by Deyrolle charts, Louis Vuitton for Christmas window displays, and Guerlain for a perfume paying homage to the cabinet of curiosities. These collaborations help fund the preservation of the collections while disseminating Deyrolle's unique aesthetic within the worlds of fashion and design. Each year, over 100,000 visitors cross the shop's threshold, making Deyrolle one of the most photographed places in Paris on Instagram.
In 2026, Deyrolle is launching "Deyrolle for the Future," a foundation dedicated to biodiversity and regenerative agriculture. Prince de Broglie, who also manages the Domaine de la Bourdaisière in Touraine (famous for its tomato conservatory with over 700 varieties), aims to make Deyrolle a bridge between wonder for nature and concrete ecological action. The foundation will fund ecosystem restoration projects, school programs, and residencies for natural history artists. Deyrolle thus remains true to its original purpose: to awaken curiosity about the living world, in a world that needs it more than ever.
