Paris - La Villette 
On a 35 hectare/85 acre site in northeastern Paris there has been developed since the mid 80s, under the direction of the architects Bernard Tschumi and Adrian Fainsilber, a new recreation and leisure park- La Villette - with a cultural objective. Two factors influenced the choice of the site: one was that a large abattoir built during the de Gaulle era closed down in 1974; the other was the presence on the site of a 19th century market hall of cast iron construction which it was desired to preserve.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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After reconstruction work lasting six years the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie - 270m/885ft long and 47m/154ft high, with a glass front and four huge blue-painted steel girders supporting the roof - was opened in March 1986.
Cité des Sciences et de L'Industrie
Parc de la Villette
30 avenue Corentin-Cariou
F-75019 Paris
France
Parc de la Villette
30 avenue Corentin-Cariou
F-75019 Paris
France
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Related Attractions
Aquarium
The Aquarium in the basement of La Villette shows Mediterranean flora and fauna in a reconstruction of the Mediterranean biotop.
Argonaute
In front of the south entrance to the Cité is a French submarine built in 1957, the "Argonaute", with a record of 400,000km/250,000mi under water.
Cité des Sciences et de L'Industrie
Parc de la Villette
30 avenue Corentin-Cariou
F-75019 Paris
France
Parc de la Villette
30 avenue Corentin-Cariou
F-75019 Paris
France
Hours
May 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 |
| Close | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 |
October 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Child or day care
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Cinaxe
Other features in La Villette are the Cinaxe, a movable projection room borne on three pairs of cylinders for speed experiments (entrance from outside); the Louis Lumière Cinema (3D), on level 0; and the Planetarium, near the Explora exhibition.
The Planetarium opened in 1986 with a 20 meter dome and a 320 seat theater. It is one of the largest theaters of its kind in Europe.
The Planetarium opened in 1986 with a 20 meter dome and a 320 seat theater. It is one of the largest theaters of its kind in Europe.
Cité de la Musique
Near the Théâtre Paris-Villette is the Cité de la Musique (by Christian de Portzamparc, 1991). In the western half of the building are the teaching rooms of the new Conservatoire de Musique, while in the eastern half are a concert hall with seating for 1,200 and other rooms for public performances and events.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 18:00 |
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Read More
La Villette Grande Halle
La Vallette Grande Halle, formerly a cattle hall (Halle aux Boeufs), is notable for the elegance of its cast-iron architecture (1867). After two years' conservation and alteration work (architects Bernhard Reichen and Philippe Robert) it was officially opened by President Mitterand in 1985. With a total area of 20,000sq.m/215,000sq.ft, it can accommodate exhibitions, concerts, theatrical productions and other events of every kind.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 22:00 | 19:00 |
La Villette Inventorium
The Inventorium at La Villette is designed to interest children in science and technology at an early age. It is in two sections, for three to six year olds and six to 12 year olds. By building a house on a "building site" children learn team work and leadership, while working at a computer terminal gives a training in logical thinking. Finally for the older ones the Minitel offers an introduction into the information age.
La Villette Media Library
The Médiathèque (Media Library) in La Villette's basement caters for ordinary people with an interest in science and technology. In addition to over 300,000 volumes, 5,000 journals and 1,000 learning programs in the Paul Painlevé Hall, it has a collection of international documentary films on video cassette.
La Villette Théâtre
At the south end of the La Villette park is the Théâtre Paris-Villette, remodelled as a municipal theater by Bernard Guillaumot, with seating for 300. It puts on mainly plays by contemporary authors.
Cité des Sciences et de L'Industrie
Parc de la Villette
30 avenue Corentin-Cariou
F-75019 Paris
France
Parc de la Villette
30 avenue Corentin-Cariou
F-75019 Paris
France
Maison de la Villette
The old rotunda at the Porte de la Villette entrance to the famous Paris park, once occupied by veterinary staff, now houses material on local history.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Musée de l'Eventail
The technical room presents the design of the frame of a fan with the work benches which have been used.
Hours
September 1 to July 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 14:00 | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities
Gift shop
Musée de la Musique
In the complex are the Musée de la Musique (formerly in Rue de Madrid; over 4,000 musical instruments), a sound studio and the Institut de Pédagogie Musicale.
Musée de la Musique
Cité de la Musique
221 avenue Jean-Jaurès
F-75019 Paris
France
Cité de la Musique
221 avenue Jean-Jaurès
F-75019 Paris
France
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities
Gift shop
Paris La Villette - Zénith
The Zénith concert hall at La Villette (by Philippe Chaix and Jean-Paul Morel), can seat 6,400, and is used mainly for rock concerts and variety shows. It is named after the red Zénith aircraft which stands nearby.
