The French are true connoisseurs of natural beauty. Even today, ordinary Parisians love to grow flowers on their balconies, and their wealthy compatriots have sponsored the appearance for centuries. Thanks to such efforts, the French capital is interesting not only for its historical buildings and various museums, but also for its numerous parks.
Some of them originated during the monarchy. Having visited Buttes Chaumont and other examples of landscape art, any tourist will want to see something unusual, look at the creations of modern science and technology. In this case, La Villette, the largest park in Paris (55 hectares), opened in 1986, would be a suitable place.
Science City and Music City in La Villette Park
35 hectares of territory La Villette Park occupy green spaces. The rest of the territory is a variety of entertainment and educational facilities and complexes, including the Town of Science and Industry (this is Naukograd) and the Museum of Music, better known as Musicograd.
City of Science and Industry La Villette
The City of Science and Industry is one of the five most visited cultural institutions in France. It is a real museum center, which 
comprises:
- Museum of Science and Industry,
- attraction Synax,
- Planetarium,
- submarine Argonaut,
- Explora exhibition hall.
To visit each of them, you will have to spend a whole day in the park, but you are unlikely to regret it. After all, only here can you hear Schrödinger’s cat crying, the Mona Lisa speaking, and the well-known Belka and Strelka barking. And all this at the same time. In addition, in Gorodok you can, like an astronaut, soar in zero gravity, imagine that you are on Mars and hanging there, and much, much more.
The building itself of this attraction can delight you. This structure has voluminous transparent glass walls, at the top of which there is a dark blue steel lattice. At first it may seem that it is very massive and rough, but once you find yourself in the middle, you quickly begin to realize that you are in a spacious place, full of sunlight.
Museum of Science and Industry (des Sciences et de l’Industrie)
The Museum of Science and Industry is located in the central part of La Villette Park in Paris. The museum has a permanent exhibition called "Explora". It consists of several sections. Among them: “Industry”, “Mathematics”, “Media of Communication”, “Living World”, “Universe”. In addition, this place is often chosen to host temporary thematic exhibitions.
Cinema Géode
La Geode looks absolutely unusual in appearance; it has a spherical shape and from the outside looks more like a shiny drop of mercury. The largest screen in Europe and powerful sound equipment, which has no analogues, make the cinema popular not only among lovers of good films in the IMAX video format, but also among those who want to see an unusual spectacle.
Cinema Louis Lumière
Located on the first floor of the building. Here you can watch a stereoscopic film in 3D. A new session starts approximately twice an hour.
The themes of the films shown in this cinema hall are mainly scientific. It’s worth a visit just to compare the general spirit of the hall with the atmosphere of the Geode cinema and to feel the difference between the technologies used in these facilities of the City of Science and Industry.
Children's science and entertainment center
A place where every child can feel like a jet pilot, an astronaut or, for example, a submarine captain. In addition, scientific and educational experiments are conducted for children, in which little children from 5 to 12 years old have the opportunity to independently take an active part. They themselves turn the generator handle and thus light a light bulb or boil a kettle, study how a stereo effect is created, etc.
Attraction Synax (Le Cinaxe)
It is often called a cinema. In essence, this is true. Visitors to Synax have the opportunity to feel themselves in motion. This effect is possible thanks to the image transmission speed of 30 frames per second. In addition, the seats in the hall move. Thus, a virtual intergalactic excursion became available to every person. Here you will also easily believe that you are going down a hill on a sled.
The sessions are short (only 15 minutes), but quite impressive; you need to have nerves of steel to pass this test with dignity.
Planetarium
Thanks to the ultra-modern sound and video equipment of the Planetarium of the Science City Museum, visitors to the park have the opportunity to see the starry sky, unravel its secrets and study not only galaxies, but also individual stars. This is a very interesting, exciting place. Having been there at least once, you will always remember the amazing views and will definitely want to return to the Planetarium to again enjoy the picture of the Universe.
Submarine
In the Town of Science and Industry there is another strange object for a park - a real boat called “Argonaut”. She cruised until 1982 and at one time managed to circle our planet ten times. On its almost 50-meter-long side you can see everything from a real turbine room to torpedo tubes.
Here they will tell you that of the entire crew, only one captain had his own bed and even a separate cabin. Everyone else was forced to huddle on one bed for two or three. The periscope offers views of the green spaces of the park.
Music City
Music City (Cité de la Musique)- the name of several musical institutions on the territory of La Villette Park: an amphitheater, a concert hall, exhibitions, halls for clubs and master classes, archives and the Museum of Music. In addition to the fact that in this part of the park there are usually high
Shows and concerts (about 250 per year), it is often used for presentations, filming films and video clips.
Music Museum
The museum has a large collection of musical instruments on 3,000 square meters. Among them there are such unusual ones as lutes from Italy, Flemish harpsichords, crystal flutes, a lyre-flute from 1800 and traditional, but rare and valuable, violins and pianos. With an audio guide you can enjoy the music played by each instrument.
In addition, within the walls of the museum there are screenings of documentaries and lectures on the development of European music, and live concerts by representatives of contemporary art.
Concert hall
Works of various musical genres and eras are performed here, from the Middle Ages to the present day. The events taking place on the stage of the concert hall of the City of Music have long acquired an international character. About 150,000 spectators come here every year. The average attendance rate is about 90%.
The City of Music also offers concerts through its subsidiary, Salle Pleyel. The hall also allows for meetings, symposiums, private concerts, fashion shows and conferences.
Amphitheater
On the territory of the park there is an Amphitheater, which is considered another concert hall, but a small one. There are only 250 seats here. It occupies some 300 square meters and therefore the atmosphere of the hall is special, intimate. The presence of a bar and fireplace also helps to create it. This space is often rented for press conferences and film premieres. Sometimes seminars are held here.
Exhibitions
In addition to the permanent exhibitions of the Museum of Music, Musicograd constantly hosts temporary exhibitions, which can be found on the official website. Many of them have already been shown in other exhibition halls in France and the world, and some debuted for the first time from this place and, thanks to good attendance, have earned quite a reputation. If you have a couple of hours of free time, be sure to attend one of these events.
Mugs
On the territory of Musicograd there are always clubs where people learn musical skills. Their visitors are mostly children. Activities are paid, but this is not an obstacle for attentive parents. There are children's groups in Gorodok from 4 years old. The initial training cycle for them consists of 30 lessons. These children are introduced to various musical instruments and taught to control their own voice.
From the age of 7, members of the circle get acquainted with wind and string instruments and those played in different countries of the world. A circle for adults involves a more detailed study of a certain direction of music or group of instruments, for example, “Large Xylophones of Uganda”, “Percussion of Guadeloupes”, “Percussion of Cubes”, etc.
Archives
At the City of Music, recordings of many musical works are stored within the walls of the archive. Specialists ensure that the temperature and humidity of the premises meet the required standards. This is done in order to preserve the originals for as long as possible. All objects in the archive are structured and presented in an online catalogue, they can be viewed on the official website of Musicograd.
The archive is constantly being replenished, its specialists closely monitor the latest musical instruction. In addition, a media library of music and dance is stored here. Specialists in this part of the City of Music provide digital recordings of works. They are ordered mainly by various organizations, especially educational institutions, which are provided with benefits when paying.
Where are Science City and Music City in La Villette Park and how to get there
Parc La Villette is located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris at 30, avenue Corentin-Cariou.
Official address:
- Music City- 221, avenue Jean-Jaurès,
- Science City- 211 avenue Jean-Jaurès.
Not far from Corentin-Cariou is located Metro station Porte-de-la-Vilette, and from the Museum of Music it is easier to get to the Porte-de-Pantin and Bobigny - Pablo Picasso stations.
They stop near the central entrance of the park. buses No. PC3, 152, 150, 139. Routes 75, 151, PC2 go to the City of Music, and routes 139, 150, 152, PC2 and PC3 go to the City of Science and Industry.
Science City and Music City on the map of Paris:
If you come with children, or don’t know how to spend your leisure time profitably, feel free to go to Parc la Villette, where you will have a unique opportunity to visit the center of exciting entertainment!
City of Science and Industry – Cite dies sciences et de l’industrie
The idea of a new use of the complex of former slaughterhouses was expressed by French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in 1977. 11 years later, this center for the dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge was opened by François Mitterrand.
Its main mission is to awaken curiosity and prepare children aged 2 to 12 for further education. Through interesting and varied games, experiences and experiments, children and teenagers discover the secrets of science during classes at the science and entertainment center.
Museum of Science and Industry – Le Musee des Sciences et de l’Industrie
The town hosts 10 exhibitions dedicated to scientific disciplines on an ongoing basis. The museum’s exposition is organized in the form of “islands” telling about volcanoes, stars and galaxies, computer science, meteorology and much more.
The complex includes several more technical attractions and objects located both inside and outside the building.
Planetarium
The planetarium's super show will pleasantly surprise children and adults. In just 35 minutes, visitors discover the endless space of space, learn many interesting facts about stars, galaxies, the history of astronomy and its present day. The feeling of flying in open space leaves an unforgettable impression, as modern technical means provide a 360-degree view.
Cinema Louis Lumière
This small cinema is located on the ground floor of the main building of the City of Science and Industry. In its hall, stereoscopic films are shown, the themes of which are often devoted to certain scientific problems.
Synax
Visitors to this visual special effects attraction feel like they are participating in the action taking place on the screen. A similar effect is achieved by a high frame rate and movements of the audience's seats in accordance with the plot of a 15-minute educational or adventure film.
Argonaut
The diesel-electric submarine of the French Navy was launched in 1958. Until 1982, the ship spent about 32 thousand hours under water on trips and during this time circled the globe 10 times. In 1989, it was installed in perpetual parking at the Geode in the La Vallet garden.
With the help of an audio guide, museum visitors will discover the secrets of military shipbuilding technology and get acquainted with the daily life of the submarine crew.
The spherical cinema opened near the City of Science and Industry in 1985. Bold architectural and technical ideas were brought into reality by A. Fansilbert and engineer J. Chamay. Externally, the Geode is a huge ball with a diameter of 36 m, with a mirror lining consisting of 6,433 metal triangles. The cinema screen with an area of 1000 m2 also has a spherical shape with a diameter of 26 m.
The auditorium can accommodate 400 people at a time, and over a year more than 1 million visitors come here to watch educational films about the past of the Earth and the history of civilization. The full effect of presence in the events unfolding on the screen is created by a powerful acoustic system and video demonstration in IMAX format.
Music City – Cite de la Musique
In the southern half of the Jardin de Villette, behind the Ourcq canal, a unique complex of various cultural institutions has historically developed, united by a common goal: promoting the development of music education and popularizing various trends in music.
The City of Music included educational institutions, concert halls, a museum, and a library. archive and media library.
The first mission of the Conservatory is to provide professional specialized education in the field of classical music, vocals, choreography and new musical directions. The latter include the departments of jazz and musical improvisation.
The building, built according to the design of the architect K. Rortzampark, forms a single architectural ensemble with the Second Paris Philharmonic on the square near the Lion Fountain.
The building in the de butte style was built on the Boulevard Surerier according to the design of J. Nouvel. The original design of its 52-meter facade attracts attention to the building from a distance. The program of the Paris Philharmonic includes symphonic concerts and numerous musical events organized in collaboration with La Villette Park.
In the second building of the Philharmonic ( Philharmonie 2), located on the square with the Lion Fountain, up to 250 concerts of various musical genres and trends are held every year. Many subscriptions and seminars of music programs are organized here, combining classics and modernity. all the varied activities of the Philharmonic are aimed at encouraging young talents and disseminating musical culture
This building also houses the Music Museum ( Le Musee de la music). In its halls you can see and hear the sound of hundreds of musical instruments from the world. The music library contains more than 40 videos in which musicians and composers demonstrate the capabilities of their instruments. Part of the exhibition is built on an interactive principle and young people aged 7-14 years can play on them independently.
- Cabaret Savage
The Cabaret Savage concert hall was designed using Magic Mirrors technology. Its opening took place in 1997 with the premiere of the show “Les Nomades Rageurs”. The interior of the hall, decorated with red drapery, embossing, mirrors, wooden panels and wood carvings, can accommodate 1,200 people. Circus performances can take place on its stage. theatrical performances, dance and music shows.
- Trabendo
Opened in 1993, the concert hall has long been a mecca for jazz musicians. Since 2000, his priority has become more modern musical genres, including rap, indie rock and electronic music. The decorative decoration of the hall, which can accommodate up to 700 people, was made by designers Ahonen and Lamberg.
- Song Hall
The National Center for Song Heritage (Hall De La Chanson) was created in 1990 with the support of the Ministry of Culture. Its main task is to popularize French song. Original multimedia products are created here, concerts are held, exhibitions and creative meetings are organized. The musical theater, which occupies the building of the former Charolais cafe, under the direction of director S. Huro, revives various vocal styles of French song culture.
- Documentation Center
In 1977, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Communications, Radio France et de la SACEM, the Center for Documentation of Contemporary Music (Centre De Documentation) was opened in La Villette Park. Its main task is to promote the education of musical culture and disseminate knowledge about modern trends in music. Within its walls are concentrated about 16 thousand musical documents in the form of audio and video recordings, books, scientific works and magazines.
- Big hall
In 1865, the architect J. Merindol, commissioned by Baron Haussmann, designed a hall (La Grande halle) for the largest livestock market in France. Previously, large Parisian slaughterhouses were located in the vicinity of the future park. In 1974, when La Villette became one of the city's parks, the former market was turned into a large hall for concerts and exhibitions. After restoration in 2005, the building's previously lost architectural elements made of glass and metal were returned, and it itself was included in the list of historical and cultural monuments.
- Zenit Concert Hall
Le Zenith was built as a temporary venue for rock concerts on the site of a former hippodrome and old circus in 1983. The original design of the building with a hall for 6.2 thousand seats was carried out by architects Chax and Morel.
Restaurants and cafes
A walk through the Villette Gardens, visiting at least part of its attractions, will inevitably take several hours. In order to recuperate or pass the time while waiting for the start of a concert or show, visitors to the garden are provided with many opportunities.
- Large food court ( Espaces de restauration de la cite dies sciences et de l’industrie) is located in the building of the City of Science and Industry. There is a Burger King hamburger restaurant, a snack bar, a tea room and several traditional restaurants.
- A few steps from the City of Science and Industry is the Mediterranean restaurant Mad Paris ( A La Folie Paris). The cozy design of the hall and the huge terrace invites you to spend a relaxing time during the day and evening. For children, there are entertainment animation programs and various games. You can also brighten up your leisure time at slot machines. After 1900, the restaurant transformed into a bar with entertainment for adults. Cafe Geode, near the cinema, offers a wide selection of light snacks, sandwiches, salads, cakes and desserts every day
- Concert Cafe ( Cafe des Concerts) is located at the entrance to the park from the Philharmonic. The interior of its two bars is decorated using white marble, and there are separate rooms for guests. Its menu includes traditional French cuisine.
- The panoramic restaurant Balcon (Le Balcon) is located on the 6th floor of the Paris Philharmonic. Its food court also includes the cafe Les Gourmandises de l’Atelier, offering pastries, salads and light snacks.
- The Great Hall houses a cafe called La petitte halle, where you can taste meat dishes, pizza and original wines. You can quench your hunger and thirst in other parts of the park: the Hippopotamus cafe offers a large selection of grilled meats, and the My Boat cafe, stylized as a ship, offers innovative solutions to traditional French cuisine.
Follies - Folie
Setting out to revive the landscape of the park, architect B. Tsshumi created 26 mysterious structures from geometric objects. They were placed throughout the garden approximately every 120 m. These structures fit harmoniously into the overall design of the park and with their original shapes entertain guests of the Villette Garden. Many of them are located near the most significant buildings in this area.
- One of B. Tsshyumi’s “madness” Folie Pavillon Janvier installed near a beautiful small neoclassical building at the southern entrance to the park, which is occupied by administrative services.
- In the southern part of the park Folie Information-Billetterie marks the location of the information center. Here you can get useful information about the facilities located in the park, ongoing events, opening hours and much more. Basic information is shown on a large electronic screen measuring 4 x 1.25 m.
- In the northern part of the Villette garden, a similar service is installed Eclat dt Folie. Here you can also get information about the location of objects and current events.
- Between the Grand Hall and the Passage Garden Folie ateliers Villette denotes a place where educational seminars on cooking, biology, cultural studies, choreography and circus arts are held.
- There is a similar place to the south of the Ourcq canal in the Prairie du Cercle park. In the same part of the park Folie du Canal installed at the physiotherapy center where you can also learn the basics of massage.
- On the border with Prairie du Triangle Park there is a marked Folie Belvedere An ideal place for roller skating and cycling.
- Focusing on Folie Echanguer You can get from Le Cabaret Sauvage to the film barge La Peniche cinema. Since 2008, it has become a meeting place for filmmakers, film festivals and the screening of short films.
- Through Folie de l'Ecluse You can leave the park, cross the Saint-Denis canal and exit onto the Gironde Quai.
- Folie Escalier adjoins the Garden of the Islands and is adjacent to the Cabaret Savage, the Geode and the Equestrian Center.
- At the entrance to the park in the City of Science and Industry area, next to an old clock from 1877, there is Folie Horloge.
- In the northern part of the park, in good weather, a good choice would be to attend a concert in the open area, where there is another Folie Kiosque a Music.
- Moving towards Folie Mediation garden visitors approach the House of Songs.
- These strange structures are also installed near the Mad Paris restaurant ( A la folie Paris), Philharmonic ( Folie Music), from Argonaut ( Folie Argonaute), near the Zenit concert halls ( Folie billetterie du Zenith) and "Trabendo", a summer cafe ( Folie cafe - Gotu) and My Boat restaurant ( Folie des visites), at the City of Science and Industry ( Folie observatoire), at the Paris-Villet theater ( Folie du theater), in the Garden of Winds and Dunes, as well as at the confluence of the Saint-Denis and Ourcq canals - Folie rond-point des Canaux .
Division into mini-parks
The entire vast green area of the La Villette garden, covering an area of 35 hectares, does not represent a single space in style. It is divided into 14 mini-parks, each of which has its own characteristics.
- The largest mini-park with spacious lawns Prairie du Triangle located in the southern half of the La Villette garden. Its vast territory of 20,000 m2 serves as an excellent place for relaxation, sports and many unexpected discoveries. Every year an outdoor film festival is held in this corner.
- A park Prairie du Cercle is located in the very center of Villette and is divided into northern and southern parts by the Ourcq canal. Its paths are the best place for cycling, and every year its green lawns become concert venues for a music festival.
- A special feature of the Triollet garden created according to the design of J. Wexlard ( Jardin De La Treille) - an abundance of vineyards climbing along trellises. In autumn, the grape harvest is used to make light table wine. The charm of this garden is given by the 90 small fountains and 7 bronze statues installed throughout its territory, made by the sculptor J. M. Albert.
- In the bamboo garden ( Jardin Des Bambous) has collected the second largest collection of various species of this plant in France. Landscape designer A. Chemetof acclimatized 30 varieties of bamboo on an area of 3,000 m2.
- Unusual and mysterious garden Equilibris ( Jardin Des Equilibres), located in the eastern part of the La Villette amusement park near Serurier Boulevard. It is especially amazing due to its backlighting in the evening. Many types of conifers, hornbeam and oaks are planted on an area of 2600 m2.
- There is a terrible forest located not far from it ( Le jardin des frayeurs enfantines) a real fairy-tale place. Strange music is constantly playing here, creating, in combination with unusual tree species, a feeling of the unreality of what is happening.
- On the other side of the Ourcq Canal is the Garden of the Islands ( jardin des iles). Its paths, paved with white and black marble, wind through the forest thickets. In the center of the garden there is a small artificial waterfall, in front of which, on the site, concerts of the Villette Sonique festival are held.
- Thirty strange monoliths about 2 meters high decorate the garden of mirrors created by B. Tschumi ( Jardin Des Miroirs) in the southwestern part of Villette Park. When illuminated at night, the reflections of passing park visitors create a disturbing play of shapes and shadows.
- On the northern side of Belvedere Alley, next to the scary forest in front of Zenith, there is a small garden of shadows ( Jardin des Ombres). Along its paths covered with marble chips, forming a fantastic pattern, there are about 50 places to relax.
- Restored in 2015 Jardin du Dragon owes its name to a huge 80-meter sculpture of a dragon, whose tongue became a water slide. You can relax here to the fullest on many other swings and carousels.
- In the opposite part of the park there is a garden of winds and dunes ( Jardin des Vents Et Des Dunes). It was created by architects I. Devin and K. Reno, both for the amusement of the youngest park visitors under the age of 2, and for teenagers. There are many attractions for the physical development of children: windmills, bicycles, inflatable trampolines, climbing walls and other entertainment.
- Sad Passenger ( Jardin des Passagers) is most often visited by people interested in biology and ecology. In a natural setting, educational workshops are held on the ecosystems of heaths, ponds, streams and orchards.
- Voltige Garden ( Jardin des Voltiges) is a small open-air circus. Conditions have been created here for gymnastic exercises, rock climbing, and there are several attractions that make you believe in miracles.
- The main attraction of the garden of drawings ( Jardin des Desins) became a giant puzzle consisting of 16,000 ceramic tiles, on which 10,000 fragments of a pattern were applied. This work by F. Hubert became a kind of reminder of the plague of the 20th century. - AIDS.
How to get there
Address: 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, Paris 75019Telephone: +33 1 40 03 75 75
Website: lavillette.com/carte-interactive
Metro: Porte de la Villette, Porte de Pantin
RER train: Pantin
Working hours: 6:00-01:00
Ticket price
- Adult: 21 €
- Reduced: 16 €
- Child: 19 €
Nestled in the far northern corner of Paris, this park is unfortunately not very popular with tourists, who are often simply unaware of its existence. However, the Parisian park La Villette is a great place to relax for both adults and children. It has everything: beauty, a pleasant atmosphere, opportunities to expand your horizons. Not the least role in this variety of genres is played by the ultra-modern City of Science and Industry (Cité des Sciences et de L"Industrie), built nearby.
The themed gardens of La Villette Park, local meadows, an open-air cinema and other attractions make a visit to this part of Paris unforgettable and eventful.
Where to look for Parc La Villette in Paris
- The main entrance is from the Cité de Sciences et de L"Industrie, 30 rue Corentin-Cariou, .
- Metro station: Porte de la Villette or Porte de Pantin (Line 7, 5).
Nearby Attractions
- Canal Saint-Martin and surroundings
The main thing in La Villette park
Parc La Villette has 10 themed gardens whose charm cannot be underestimated. Here are some of them:
- Bamboo Grove
- Dragon Grove
- Frog Garden
- Mirror Garden
- Wind Garden
- Dune Garden
The Zenith concert hall, which is located in La Villette park, is one of the main concert halls in Paris.
The local manicured meadows (called “prairies”) are perhaps some of the best picnic spots in the entire world! And in the summer they also show open-air movies for free. And this is all of Paris!
Center La Villette in Paris(La Villette) is the largest technical cultural and educational complex in Europe, it is a super modern and super exciting place for children and a real find for parents!
City of Science and Industry
City of Science and Industry ( Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie), three times the size of , was built on the site of old concrete slaughterhouses on the north side of the Ourcq canal. And, undoubtedly, it has become the most amazing building in Paris over the past two decades, where lovers of modern architecture should visit at least to inspect its stainless steel and glass interior, with original cantilevered platforms.
Constant museum exhibition Explor located on the top two floors and is a large playground (9 thousand sq.m.), where all aspects of scientific thought are demonstrated - from flights into outer space to the world of microbes.
The exhibition has 18 sections with interactive exhibits:
Cars are the most modern simulators for kids,
Aeronautics - models of modern aircraft, for example the Mirage IV bomber,
Biology,
Mountains and volcanoes,
Life and health,
Stars and galaxies - astronomical gallery,
Sound – games with sound effects,
Play of light is one of the most attractive sections for children with demonstrations of various optical effects,
Computer techologies,
Space – a walk on the Moon, a visit to the space station, 
Mathematics,
Medicine - let the kids take a stethoscope and “examine” the patient,
Images – here you can try yourself as a representative of different professions,
Ocean - there is a submarine here that can go down to a depth of 600m,
Environment,
Planetarium,
Garden of the future,
Expression and behavior - it is interesting to know how you appear to other people,
Energy – steam engines and other turbomachines.
Unfortunately, many explanatory signs are in French.
There is also a separate Planetarium. Visiting it is organized in sessions (300 people each), you are invited to “walk” through the night sky and look at the constellations and planets. Entrance to the Planetarium is for a fee.
Children's Town (Cite des Enfants)
Little ones are not ignored either - it was created for them. Playground. This is a museum of science and nature for children from 3 to 12 years old. There is something here to suit both the little ones and primary schoolchildren (various games are offered for them).
“Learning science” takes place here by interacting with robots, pumps and gears, working on a children's “construction site” or in a darkroom. Knowledge of French is not necessary - everything is already clear.
And “nature” is represented here by a greenhouse and butterflies.
There are instructors on the site, but children unaccompanied by adults are not allowed here.
The visit takes place in “sessions” lasting one and a half hours (on vacation days - 1 hour 15 minutes).
Tuesday – Friday: sessions at 9:45, 11:30, 13:30, 15:15.
Saturday - Sunday: sessions at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30.
Other things to do in La Villette
Cinema Geode
A huge shining metal ball attracts the unconditional attention of visitors to the La Villette center in Paris. Here, IMAX 3D films are shown on a spherical screen inside.
Cinema Louis Lu-miere
Documentaries about nature and science are shown here, as well as cartoons with three-dimensional images.
Cinema Cinaxe
Absolutely realistic effect of diving to the bottom of the ocean - three-dimensional image and seats with hydraulic cylinders.
Aquarium
Marine inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea - more than 200 species of fish, crayfish, mollusks and algae
Also on the territory of La Villette, temporary exhibitions on the latest achievements of science and natural wonders are constantly held.
Website http://www.cite-sciences.fr (link in Russian)
Opening hours:
Explora: Tuesday – Sunday 9.30-18.00 (Sunday until 19.00)
Geode: Tuesday - Saturday from 10.30 to 20.30 and sometimes on Mondays.
Address 30 Av Corentin Cariou, XIX
Metro Porte de la Vilette (line 7)
Architect Bernard Tschumi made it into the absolutely fantastic park of La Villette (parc de La Villette). This is not a vacation spot, not a technology park or an amusement park in its purest form, but a territory where the motto of the great writer Jules Verne is fully realized: “Educate while entertaining.” And, I must admit, the park administration is doing an excellent job with this.
Here for many decades there was a Parisian slaughterhouse and a huge meat wholesale market. Such places do not decorate either the landscape or the ecology, therefore, with the growth of the city, the question of their demolition arose. The city hall of Paris was stopped by the fact that the steel structures of the slaughterhouse are older than the Eiffel Tower and could well be considered a monument of constructivism. It was decided not to demolish them, but to convert them into a hall for exhibitions, performances and celebrations.
Today, the Grand Halle, now modernized and expanded, houses a huge collection of audio materials known as the Music City, a huge bookshop and the Paris National Higher Conservatoire of Music and Dance, for whose students the park's concert venues serve as a testing ground for their talents.
Here on March 13, 1986, on the night of the passage of Halley's comet, the City of Science and Industry was inaugurated. The basis of the Town was the same former Grand Al slaughterhouse, but today it is surrounded by many absolutely incredible attractions. This is the Geode spherical 3D cinema, the Synax attraction, which creates the illusion of complete presence, four theaters, a cabaret and an equestrian center. A considerable territory of the park, as much as 55 hectares, is almost completely planted with trees, and a covered gallery for walks stretches along the canal.
Everything located in the park has become exhibits demonstrating the achievements of technology and science. The Ourcq Canal, which flows through the park, along which gigantic herds of animals were once transported here by barges, remains navigable, with lock structures preserved on it, which can be viewed during a trip by steamboat, passing into the Saint-Germain Canal and, all the way to.
The real star of the exhibition is, undoubtedly, the Argonaut submarine, a real combat warship, installed here for public inspection and causing genuine delight among children (especially boys).
Even more interesting are the themed gardens of the Town. Each of them has different and sometimes very strange installations, for example, the Dragon Garden is decorated with a 25-meter constructivist sculpture of a creepy monster made of steel, which, in fact, turns out to be a children's attraction with a slide. Need I add that La Villette Park has now turned into one of the most interesting tourist sites in Paris and a favorite vacation spot for the Parisians themselves.
Address: 211 Avenue Jean Jaur?s
