Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Technology museum in Parc de la Villette, France.
The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is a science museum in Parc de la Villette, France, occupying a former slaughterhouse building. The site includes a planetarium, a submarine named Argonaute, and an IMAX cinema called La Géode.
The museum opened in March 1986, when the Giotto space probe reached Halley's Comet, a project under President François Mitterrand. The building was previously part of a slaughterhouse complex that closed down in the 1970s.
Families with children come here to take part in workshops where they can try out physics or robotics, while teenagers often use the interactive displays to explore programming or chemistry. On weekends, groups gather in the exhibition rooms to discover scientific phenomena together or participate in guided experiments.
The museum opens Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday until 7 p.m., closed on Monday. Tickets cover access to permanent exhibitions and planetarium shows, while separate admission is required for the IMAX cinema.
The building features three glass greenhouse structures called Les Serres, built without traditional framing and demonstrating innovative construction techniques. The Argonaute is a real French military submarine from the 1950s that visitors can explore from the inside.
Location: Pont-de-Flandre
Inception: 1980s
Official opening: March 13, 1986
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Fee: Yes
Address: 30 avenue Corentin Cariou
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-18:00; Sunday 10:00-19:00
Phone: +33140057000
Email: infocontact@universcience.fr
Website: https://cite-sciences.fr
GPS coordinates: 48.89575,2.38798
Latest update: December 2, 2025 22:49
French amusement parks combine entertainment, education, and culture. Located outside major cities, these parks offer themed experiences that set them apart from traditional amusement parks. They focus on specific topics such as science, history, or French cultural heritage, attracting families and school groups year-round. Vulcania in Auvergne explains volcanism through interactive exhibits in a dormant volcanic landscape. Puy du Fou in Vendée presents France's history with theatrical shows featuring over a thousand actors. Le Parc du Petit Prince in Alsace offers attractions inspired by Saint-Exupéry's literary work. France Miniature near Paris displays over a hundred scaled replicas of French monuments at 1:30 scale. Futuroscope in Poitiers uses projection and simulation technologies to create audiovisual experiences. These parks combine leisure activities, regional identity, and educational objectives.
Paris offers many options for families with children, from large amusement parks to interactive museums. Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée features two themed parks focused on Disney characters, while Parc Astérix in Plailly offers roller coasters and shows inspired by Gaulish culture. In the city, the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie allows children to explore technology and science practically, with its planetarium and experimental zones. Families can also visit the Paris Zoological Park, which displays 180 species in habitats recreating different ecosystems, or explore the National Museum of Natural History with its fossil and mineral collections. For aquatic activities, Aquaboulevard has slides and wave pools under a roof. The Grevin Museum exhibits over 200 wax statues of famous personalities, while the Museum of Illusions engages viewers with interactive visual installations. La Villette Park combines green spaces, playgrounds, and cultural venues across 55 hectares.
Paris has a variety of game rooms and recreational spaces offering activities for all ages. From Le Marais to Montmartre, these venues feature virtual reality experiences, themed escape games, flight simulators, free-fall attractions, and arcade games. Visitors can also try axe throwing, participate in interactive quizzes, or go on treasure hunts through the city streets. Notable locations include the City of Science and Industry with scientific exhibitions and a planetarium, while Virtual Room offers collaborative missions in digital environments. The Paris School of Magic teaches sleight-of-hand techniques, and iFLY Paris provides indoor free-fall sensations via wind tunnels. These spaces host activities suitable for groups, families, and individuals seeking new forms of entertainment in the capital.
Parc de la Villette
354 m
Zénith Paris
430 m
Grande halle de la Villette
586 m
Canal Saint-Denis
410 m
La Bicyclette ensevelie
401 m
Cabaret Sauvage
314 m
Le Trabendo
559 m
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
18 m
Philharmonie de Paris
621 m
IFly
105 m
Glazart
214 m
Square de la Porte de la Villette
464 m
Sculptures Bachelard
389 m
Quai de la Gironde
362 m
Quai de la Charente
248 m
Passerelle des Ardennes
583 m
Sculptures de visées
396 m
Galerie de la Villette
307 m
Quai de Metz
538 m
Argonaute
178 m
Parc de la Villette
102 m
Galerie de l'Ourcq
301 m
Pont de Flandre
304 m
Pavillon Villette
215 m
Petite Ceinture in Paris 19e arrondissement
541 m
152 avenue de Flandre, Paris
503 m
Parc de la Villette Footbridge (I)
302 m
Bain-douche Rouvet
378 mReviews
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