Yes, this interactive science museum is a must-see on a science or maths school trip to Paris, but it’s actually worth including on almost any school trip itinerary.
For one thing, the information boards are in French (most are also in English) so this is also a good visit to test your students’ reading comprehension on a French language trip.
It’s Europe’s largest science museum and welcomes around five million visitors per year. The museum is located in the Parc de la Villette, Paris’ third largest park.
The park itself is worth a visit too - as well as being home to the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, it also boasts three major music venues and the prestigious Conservatoire de Paris.
The science museum project was the innovation of then-French President Valerie Giscard d’Estaing, who wanted to promote public interest in science, research and industry, particularly among young people.
Constructed around the steel trusses of a former abattoir, the museum was eventually opened by President François Mitterand in March 1986.
The museum boasts a planetarium, a 1950s submarine and an Omnimax theatre housed within a geodesic dome known as La Géode.
Permanent exhibitions focus on the brain, light, energy, maths, transport, genes, science in the media and much, much more. The museum also boasts an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions.
Interested in visiting the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie on your next trip to Paris? Contact us today for more information, or to request your tailor-made quote.