1 Centre Georges Pompidou
2 Les Champs-Elysées
3 La Grande Arche de la Défense
4 Les Invalides
5 Le Louvre
6 Notre-Dame
7 Orsay, Musée d'
8 Les Quais
9 La Tour Eiffel
10 La Villette
The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie and the Cité de la Musique revitalised the outer district of La Villette, turning it into a new cultural centre.
Situated just inside the boulevard périphérique, between the Porte de la Villette and the Porte de Pantin, the 30-ha parc de la Villette was laid out on the site of Paris's former abattoirs. This ultra-modern park includes two vast cultural complexes, one devoted to science and the other to music, themed gardens scattered with red metal follies and various children's activity areas. A long covered walk joins the main buildings.
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie The abattoirs' former auction hall was transformed into a vast scientific complex surrounded by water in which the public is both spectator and actor. 'Explora' is a permanent exhibition centred on the earth and the universe, life, languages and communication, the use of natural resources and technological and industrial developments. The Cité des Enfants is a fascinating interactive world for children aged 3 to 12. There are also a planetarium, an aquarium, a 3-D cinema, a multimedia library, a research centre, a submarine, a simulation booth (Cinaxe), in which spectators are able to live through the action of a film, and La Géode, a huge sphere equipped with a hemispherical screen which shows films on scientific subjects. Cité de la Musique The focal point of the Cité de la Musique is the vast square in front of the Grande Halle where concerts and exhibitions are held. On the left of the square is the new music and dance conservatory while the triangular building on the right houses concerts halls and a museum (see Musée de la Musique).Address: Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, parc de la Villette, 30 avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris, Cite-Sciences; Cité de la Musique, 221 avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris
Phone: Cité des Sciences: 01 40 05 80 00; Cité de la Musique: 01 44 84 45 45 00, information bookings 01 44 84 44 84
Open: Cité des Sciences: Tue-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-7; closed 1 May, 25 Dec; Cité de la Musique: Tue-Thu 12-6, Fri-Sat 12-7:30, Sun 10-6
Restaurant: Restaurants near by (Inexpensive-Moderately priced)
Bus: Cité des Sciences: 75, 139, 150, 152, PC; Cité de la Musique: 75, 151, PC
Metro: Cité des Sciences: Porte de la Villette; Cité de la Musique: Porte de Pantin
Accessible: Cité des Sciences: very good; Cité de la Musique, museum: excellent
Admission: Cité des Sciences: before 4pm expensive, after 4pm moderate; Cité de la Musique: free, museum: moderate
Practical: Cité des Sciences: temporary exhibitions, lectures, shops; Cité de la Musique: concerts, shops
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