Parc de la Villette, Cite des Sciences et de l'Ind

[denise]

Back to Paris, and here are my pictures from the Parc de la Villette and Cite de Sciences et de l’Industrie which I visited on 18th January 2009

Parc de la Villette is built on the site of old abattoirs and is a huge site. It is an “urban” park so don’t expect pretty. There were lots of French families around out for a Sunday stroll. There is lots of space for children to run a round or cycle. I think there is a cinema and a huge pitch and putt and playgrounds.
2

3
A giant pitch and putt.

4
Cross over the canal

5
There was still ice in the water


6 This giant slide looks fun

7Geodome

8 Shades of the Pompidou? Side of the exibition hall.


The Cite des Sciences et de l’Industrie is a huge building at the far end of the parc. There were several ticket windows and lots of ticket machines. I joined a small queue. Staff were asking the queue what we wanted to see. As my French is very minimal I found the content confusing. But there looked to be several body related exibit so I plumped for them. I couldn’t see any audio guides.

9 Entrance to the Cite

9a


I chose to visit the exhibits about the body and disease.(professional curiosity.)
10

11 brain

12 IVF conception

13 I wandered around the internal combustion engine exibit

14

15 and the universe exibit

16 Vocanos

17explanation of windfarms


I wandered around for a couple of hours and enjoyed it but I felt very hampered by my lack of French. There were lots of interactive things to do but of course my French was not good enough.

I would have liked to have spent more time in the exibition but my time was limited. You could easily spend a day there especially with children.

www.paris.org/Musees/Cite/

Denise
Love from England

[mossie]

Thanks Denise. Another place which I have intended to visit but never managed to. Will just have to keep going back until I have finished the list of must sees. Then it will no doubt have grown again!!

[Shoesy]

Wow! That place looks huge, Denise. I guess you really need to know French to truly understand what those exhibits are about. That leaves me out.

[GitteK]

Denise, thank you for a very thorough and interesting photo documentation ! You do go to the quirkiest places, girl !

[holger]

I am impressed by the size and scope of what you see. If we ever get our two youngest grandchildren to Paris this looks like a great way to spend a day with them.

[geordy]

We wandered around the Parc there a number of years ago..kind of by mistake..then headed over to the Buttes Chaumont. Have to check it out again and go inside!!! ;D

[Katharine]

Denise,

Thanks for this report. While I am sure for some it would be time well-spent, as I am the most un-scientific person I know, I am not sure I woud spend precious paris time there. But I can see that it would certainly be some people's "cup of tea."

Katharine