Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie is a major science museum and educational complex in Parc de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. It opened in the mid-1980s as a public science centre focused on interactive learning and outreach.

Exhibits include hands-on galleries for children, temporary thematic exhibitions, a planetarium and the distinctive mirrored hemispherical cinema known as La Géode. The centre emphasizes interactive science education with spaces tailored to different age groups and rotating displays.

The institution was developed by the French state and cultural agencies during the late 20th century to provide a large-scale public science facility; it has been expanded and updated several times since opening. It serves both school groups and general visitors as an informal learning venue.

Sited in northeastern Paris within Parc de la Villette, the complex sits near the Canal de l’Ourcq and is well connected by public transport via the Parc de la Villette and Porte de Pantin metro stations.

• Location tip: Located within Parc de la Villette in Paris's 19th arrondissement, it is adjacent to the Parc's open spaces and other cultural institutions.
• Highlight: La Géode's reflective dome is a distinctive external landmark and also the site's main large-format film venue, useful for combining a visit with other Parc de la Villette attractions.

What to See #

• La Géode: A mirrored hemispherical IMAX-style auditorium located on the museum grounds that presents documentary and large-format films inside a 36-metre dome.
• Cité des Enfants: A hands-on gallery for children focusing on sensory and scientific experiments, designed for specific age groups and rotating exhibits.
• Planetarium and exhibition halls: A planetarium and temporary exhibition spaces that host rotating scientific and technological displays aimed at public education.