La Serre aux Papillons in La Queue-lez-Yvelines, a tropical jungle near Paris

For an unusual outing for lovers or families, head for the Yvelines region and the Serre aux Papillons in La-Queue-lez-Yvelines, France's very first tropical jungle home to these majestic insects! And since this year, there's also a lovely luminescent forest, to make you feel like you're in the film Avatar! You'll just have to be patient to make the most of the 700 butterflies that inhabit this unusual jungle near Paris, and even if they land on you, don't touch them!

The greenhouse was invented in 1989 by Mr Poullain, owner of the eponymous garden centers. You also have to walk through the greenhouse in La-Queue-Lez-Yvelines to reach the butterfly area, which covers almost 1,000m2. This is the only tropical butterfly jungle in the Ile-de-France region, and one of the few in France, quite different from the one at Parc Floral. In addition to huge lepidopterans, much larger than those in our gardens, you can see moths, chrysalises, adorable Chinese quail and countless rare flowers and plants. It's 28 degrees in the greenhouse, with almost 80% humidity, so make sure you don't cover up too much!

This lush environment is ideal for teaching children about the fragility of these insects and their ecosystem. It's also a great opportunity to marvel at all the shimmering colors, whether you're a child or an adult. Take your time in the different areas of the greenhouse to observe as many butterflies as possible, and engrave the image of their fairy-like swarms in your memory.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of November 25 to December 1, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings
• What to do in Paris and the Paris Region in November 2024? Our tips and ideas for outings
• Free Museums and Monuments to visit in Paris and the Ile-de-France region, good ideas for outings

Some forty kilometers from the capital, just a Navigo ride away, you can enjoy a dazzling natural spectacle and the new discovery areas of the Serre aux Papillons. After admiring so much beauty, we plunge into the dark to learn more about luminescence and the action of light-reflecting plants, which could naturally light up the cities of tomorrow. A play of sound and light plunges us into a strange, evolving universe, an ode to the beauty of living things. Price: 7 to 9.50 euros per person for a visit lasting just over an hour.

La Serre aux Papillons closes every year on December 4, reopening around Valentine's Day. It's possible to come and organize your child's birthday party, and enjoy group workshops, on weekends only, from 3pm.