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 effects attraction feel like they are part of the action taking place on the screen. A similar effect is achieved by a high frame rate and the movements of the audience chairs in accordance with the plot of a 15-minute educational or adventure film.
Argonaut
The submarine diesel-electric boat of the French Navy was launched in 1958. Until 1982, the ship spent about 32 thousand hours in campaigns under water 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 to know the daily life of a submarine crew.
The spherical cinema opened near the City of Science and Industry in 1985. Bold architectural and technical ideas were embodied in reality by A. Fansilber 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 the same 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 Willet Garden, behind the Urk Canal, a unique complex of various cultural institutions has historically developed, which are 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 brighten up your leisure time at slot machines. After 1900 the restaurant was 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 with 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 huge territory of 20,000 m2 is an excellent place for recreation, sports and holds 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 Willet and is divided into northern and southern parts by the Urk canal. Its paths are the best place for cycling, and every year the green lawns become concert venues for the 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 grown grape harvest is used to make light table wine. The charm of this garden is given by 90 small fountains installed throughout its territory and 7 bronze statues 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 an unsettling play of form and shadow.
- On the north side of the Belvedere alley, next to the terrible forest in front of the 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 for recreation.
- Restored in 2015 Jardin du Dragon owes its name to a huge 80-meter sculpture of a dragon whose tongue has become 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 fun of the youngest visitors to the park under the age of 2 years, 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 passengers) is most often visited by people interested in biology and ecology. In a natural environment, training seminars are held here on the ecosystems of wastelands, 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 €
Park La Villette (French parc de La Villette) is comfortably located in the east of Paris, far from the center. 55 hectares of green park space, filled with a wide variety of entertainment for children and adults. The park is an excellent place to relax. Tourists and simply guests of the city try to visit La Villette with all its attractions. This park is relatively young. It was created under the patronage of the French […]
Parc La Villette (Willet) (fr. parc de La Villette) is comfortably located in the east of Paris, far from the center. 55 hectares of green park space, filled with a wide variety of entertainment for children and adults. The park is an excellent place to relax. Tourists and simply guests of the city try to visit La Villette with all its attractions.
This park is relatively young. It was created under the patronage of French President Mitterrand, and it was conceived as a “park of the 21st century.” The opening took place in 1985. Since then, the park is the largest in France and has become a popular walking place for city residents who come here with families.
Children like La Villette for its pavilions, where you can play around imagining yourself as a submariner, a jet pilot or an astronaut. There are no prohibitory signs or restrictions in the park. Little Parisians and guests of the capital are not stopped by the hands of guards. Children's playgrounds with attractions are scattered among the lawns and green lawns. Children especially enjoy exploring the science and technology town, where they can try and touch everything. La Villette is home to a submarine called the Argonaut. And in the Explora exhibition hall, everyone can get acquainted with the history of aeronautics, automotive industry and astronautics.
Park La Villette (French parc de La Villette)
Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris, FranceTake the metro to Porte de Pantin or Porte de la Villette
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Paris and its surrounding areas have many beautiful, historically rich attractions. But La Villette Park (French: Parc de La Villette) stands out from other Parisian parks. This is a new type of park - urban, in which architecture and landscape are equal components. This unique complex combines nature and architecture, recreational areas for citizens, and numerous pavilions for exhibitions, performances, concerts and other public events. The center of the park is the town of science and industry. The museum halls of the town are created according to a new, interactive type, the visitor does not act in the traditional role of a passive observer, but actively participates in everything that happens before his eyes.
The park is located in the north-eastern part of Paris, on the site where there used to be slaughterhouses and a livestock market. It is considered the largest park in Paris, its area is 55 hectares, of which 35 hectares are green spaces, mainly lawns.
The history of the park
In 1982, François Mitterrand decided to carry out a large cultural project - the creation of a new type of park on the site of the former livestock market - La Villette. An international competition was held to create the park. Creative teams from many countries of the world took part in the competition. A total of 743 projects were submitted from 38 countries.
10 design teams from the former USSR, including from Ukraine, also took part in the competition.
The representative jury of the competition (of 21 people) was headed by the Brazilian - world-famous landscape architect and abstract artist Roberto Burl Marx, an associate of Oscar Niemeyer.
The first prize was awarded to the project of a team of designers led by Bernard Tschumi, an architect of Swiss origin who represented the United States and then accepted French citizenship. He, according to the terms of the competition, received a contract for the construction of the park.
In 1984, the architect began to create a park, the construction of which lasted for 4 years. The creators of the park, and many prominent architects took part in its creation besides B. Tshumi, had a difficult task to equip the territory, which would include not only entertainment and entertainment complexes, but also a city of education, science and cultural development for children. In addition, it was necessary to take into account the likelihood of changes to the fleet in the future. And already in 1985, the territory of La Villette Park was open to the public. At this time, the main building of La Villette Park was the reconstructed Great Indoor Market - Grand Halle (French Grande Halle), built back in 1867 and included in the register of historical monuments. Preserving this masterpiece of metal architecture, built under the direction of Victor Baltard, the head of the civil works of Paris, and transforming it with respect for the original building was a real highlight for Paris.
The large market is built entirely of cast iron and steel. From the day of its opening, the Great Market attracted the public, presenting various spectacles: an annual jazz festival, theatrical performances, concerts, exhibitions, and international forums.
In March 1986, the main building of the park, the Center for Science and Industry, was opened in the park. This is the most significant institution in Europe that popularizes science. It is located on an area of 100,000 m2 and is surrounded by water.
The concept of the building was determined by three main themes: the water that surrounds it, the vegetation that is present inside thanks to bioclimatic greenhouses and the light that pours through the rotating domes and illuminates the space of the museum.
One of the most famous attractions of the park is the amazing spherical building of the Geode cinema. Today it is the most perfect in shape artificially created ball on our planet. The cinema screen shows films about the living nature of the Earth and its underwater world.
Until the end of construction, many thematic gardens were created in the park, about which below
Current state
La Villette Park includes two large lawns located on either side of the canal: Circle Prairie and Triangle Prairie. Planted, they form spaces for relaxation. The Triangular prairie hosts an open-air film festival every summer, attracting audiences from all over Paris. Large open spaces of lawns in the center of the park serve not only an aesthetic function, but also serve as a place for relaxation and games.
In addition to the large structures listed above, throughout the park there are pavilions - “folie” (folie - mansion, country house). Installed at considerable distances from each other throughout the park, the concrete folies designed by the architect Bernard Tschoumi, clad in red iron, stand out clearly against the greenery. Some of the "folies" are purely decorative, others house children's workshops, an information center, a snack bar or even a concert hall.
The park crosses the Ourcq Canal. Along it, on a river coral, you can sail to Stalingrad Square, and then through the locks and along the Saint-Martin Canal to the Place de la Bastille and the Seine.
The northern and southern parts of the park are connected by two pedestrian bridges over the canal, as well as a walking gallery with a wavy roof that crosses the entire park.
On the territory of La Villette Park, many thematic gardens have been created: the Garden of Children's Fears, the Garden of Grapevines, the Garden of Shadows, the Garden of Winds and Dunes, the Bamboo Garden, the Garden of Mirrors, the Equilibrist Garden, the Dragon Garden, the Garden of Balance and the Garden of the Islands.
The garden is located 6 meters below the level of the park: spectators descend to the bamboo thickets along strips paved with black and white pebbles.
In the gardens of Mirrors, Mists and Children's Fears, the kingdoms of minerals and vegetation coexist.
Thus, the Garden of Winds and Dunes, designed in a marine style, is aimed more at children who come to the park with adults.
In the Garden of Balance you can try yourself on all kinds of sports equipment, swings to maintain balance, rope ladders and bridges.
In addition, there are various attractions, centers and theaters, etc. These are the Synax attraction, the Argonaut submarine (a real French military submarine from 1957), the Paris-Villet theater, an equestrian center, a tent, a music kiosk, the International Theater French, etc.
A varied cultural program offers numerous entertainments throughout the year: exhibitions, theater performances, concerts, circus, cinema sessions, active outdoor games.
Personal impressions of visiting the park
This park is by no means a priority on the list of attractions that tourists from our country who come to Paris plan to visit. My desire to see this park was dictated, first of all, by the fact that Ukrainian architects also participated in the international competition of projects to create it. The creative team, which was headed by Yuri Bondar from the KievNIIgrad design institute, also included specialists from the state institute of urban design "Giprograd", where I worked at that time (1982-83). I witnessed the creative battles of the specialists working on this project and their feedback on the project of Bernard Tschumi (Tschumi), who won this competition.
Here, as Titova N.P., a candidate of architecture, wrote in her article “La Villette - a park of the 21st century” about the Ukrainian project:
« ...It is also necessary to note the project of the people of Kiev (headed by Yu. Bondar).
In the project, the entire park space is completely free from new development. The main concept of the project is a spatial multifunctional structure, which is a grandiose ring with a diameter of 640 m, raised above the ground to a height of 40 m on seventeen communication supports, stylized as tree trunks, and connected by a system of ramps to the highway. Large containers for plants grown hydroponically are mounted on the ring, and above it there is a rotating disk that serves to view the panorama of the city.
Along the perimeter of the site there are anti-noise volumetric structures with parking lots and a Music Center. There are green terraces on the roof of these structures. The project provides for a large number of water devices, almost twice the area of the existing water surface. The space under the ring-structure is designed as a parterre with a pattern of flowers and paving on astronomical themes.
The disadvantages of the project include a rigid planning scheme, which excluded the suitability of the territory for various events and, even more so, the transformation of pavilions».
As a result, the Ukrainian project took, as far as I remember, 26th place out of more than 700 works sent to the competition from 38 countries. For this generally good result, the entire creative team of Ukrainian specialists was awarded a trip to Paris, where a special exhibition of all projects participating in the competition was organized.
I was able to see this park only in 2007, that is, 12 years after the date of its opening. To be honest, this park is like a park, the way I imagine the park http://www.. I perceived it as a complex of education, knowledge and entertainment, and certainly not as a place to admire the landscape, plants or a place of solitude and contemplation. This is truly an urban park in which architecture and functionality dominate. Alas, lack of time, the large territory of the park, and the variety of interesting components of the park did not allow me to thoroughly and leisurely explore all the attractions of the park, so my impressions can be considered as the result of a brief visual inspection of it.
In order for readers to form their own opinion, it is necessary, of course, to see this park directly on the spot, and those who do not have such an opportunity can take a virtual walk through it by watching a short film.
Rekovets Petr, dendrologist,
Chairman of the Board
Kyiv Landscape Club
La Villette is the largest park in Paris. It is notable not only for its size (35 hectares), but also for the fact that the stars of modern architecture contributed their talent to its appearance. They built the most famous cultural centers: the City of Science and Industry, the Paris Conservatory of Music and Dance, three huge concert halls, the City of Music with a museum of ancient musical instruments.
Here, on the north-eastern outskirts of Paris, a huge slaughterhouse and a wholesale meat market, built during the time of Napoleon III, have been located since the 19th century. In 1974, they were removed from here and a competition was announced for the best use of the territory. It was won by Bernard Tschumi, a preacher of “architectural futility” and a participant in the 1968 Paris student uprising. He put forward and implemented the idea of an avant-garde, dynamic and active park.
The park opened in 1987 and very quickly became a popular attraction in Paris, a center of attraction for Parisians and tourists. Up to 10 million people visit it every year. Many world-class cultural events take place here. The park itself attracts with its “architectural follies” inspired by the postmodern idea of deconstructivism. It was in this vein that the best architects of our time worked here, developing Tschumi’s design - Christian de Montzamparc, Adrien Fencilbert, Jean-Paul Morel, Jean Nouvel.
For example, in 1995, the City of Music opened in La Villette, consisting of a concert hall, an amphitheater, a music museum, exhibition halls and workshops. The complex was designed by Christian de Montzamparc, famous for his works in New York, Berlin, and Luxembourg. Now in La Villette the construction of the Paris Philharmonic with a hall of classical and jazz music with 2,400 seats is being completed. The hall is designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Jean Nouvel.
The park is crossed by the Ourcq Canal, which supplies Paris with about half of the water it needs. You can rent a boat and ride along the canal. If you just walk through the park, you can easily find ten theme gardens. In the Dragon Garden there is a thirty-meter steel dragon - children love it very much. The outstanding French landscape artist Alexander Shemetov created a bamboo garden here, unusual even for Paris.
It is impossible to get lost in the huge park: thirty-five extravagant, brightly painted structures, which are called “foolies,” are visible from everywhere. But for tourists who have lost each other, this is pretty useful nonsense.
The town of Science and Industry La Villette is not the most common point on the tourist trails of Paris. No one advised us, we found it ourselves in preparation for a trip to Paris. Since we were traveling with two smart boys, it seemed to us that it would be interesting for both them and us (two young ladies with higher technical education).
The town of La Villette is the largest center of scientific and technological propaganda in Europe. This is a huge three-story building + two underground floors. A real treasure trove of information about the great scientific and technological achievements of our time, something like a science museum with interactive exhibits, divided into sections for various fields of science and technology: Space, Communications, Health, Humans, TV Studio, Shadows and Lights, Video Games , Sounds, Robots, Math and much, much more.
We only planned half a day for the town of La Villette; I’ll say right away that even a day to walk around the entire museum and see and take part in at least half of the experiments is not enough. It is located in the north of Paris, on the territory of La Villette park. Entrance tickets turned out to be quite expensive (for four it was about 70-80 euros), but in several packages: we chose Explora + one film in the magnificent Geode cinema. And went on a scientific journey ...
This globe was very impressive, it rotates and shimmers like plasma, and there are no fastenings either from below or from above, I think it is a magnetic field.
Explora is the exhibition itself, La Geode is a huge sparkling mirror sphere in which IMAX 3D films are shown, creating a completely immersive effect. Typically, Discovery and National Geographic films are broadcast, filled with the sounds of wildlife, bird sounds and splashing water. In "Geode" we took a screening of the movie "Dragons", high amphitheater seats with seat belts. Only later did it become clear why: a completely real, indescribable feeling - as if you were flying upside down with a dragon, and here you really couldn’t dive down from the height of your seats. The hall was completely full; entire classes of French children were brought there. The big minus is that not knowing French, we could only look at the picture - but it is also very impressive. By the way, for an additional fee it was possible to take an audio translator in English, but we were late. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a photo either, since we almost ran to the session.
As for the language, unfortunately, without knowledge of French or technical English, you will only have to walk around the exhibition and try to guess what is actually required of you. For example, we took part in an attraction in a drum with centrifugal force. Knowing only basic French words, they looked at the other children and adults and repeated what they did - had a great time.
The aquarium on the ground floor seemed quite modest, mostly as an addition to the numerous cafes.
The most interesting thing at the exhibition was, as usual, on the top floor - the section with optical illusions, everything there is intuitive. Almost everyone watched it with pleasure, but it was time to leave.
I give the City of Science a four solely because without a good knowledge of the language it is quite difficult to fully enjoy visiting it. By the way, we heard Russian speech there only once.
