Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie

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Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
File:La cite des sciences 2.jpg
La Cité des Sciences
Established 13 March 1986
Location Paris
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type Science museum
Director Claudie Haigneré
Public transit access Porte de la Villette
Metro-M.svg Paris m 7 jms.svg
Website www.cite-sciences.fr/en/

The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is the biggest science museum in Europe.[1] Located in Parc de la Villette in Paris, France, it is one of the three dozen Cultural Centers of Science, Technology and Industry (CCSTI), promoting science and science culture.

About five million people visit the Cité each year. Attractions include a planetarium, a submarine (the Argonaute), an IMAX theatre (La Géode) and special areas for children and teenagers.

The Cité is classified as a public establishment of an industrial and commercial character, an establishment specialising in the fostering of scientific and technical culture. Created on the initiative of President Giscard d'Estaing, the goal of the Cité is to spread scientific and technical knowledge among the public, particularly for youth, and to promote public interest in science, research and industry.

The most notable features of the "bioclimatic facade" facing the park are Les Serres – three greenhouse spaces each 32 metres high, 32 metres wide and 8 metres deep. The facades of Les Serres were the first structural glass walls to be constructed without framing or supporting fins.

Between 30 May and 1 June 2008, the museum hosted the 3rd International Salon for Peace Initiatives.

Features

File:VBRITTO-cite-sciences-2.jpg
La Cité des Sciences main hall escalator
  • Explora (levels 1, 2, and 3)
  • The library of science and industry (Médiathèque, level −1)
  • City of children (level 0)
  • Auditorium (level 0)
  • Louis Lumière theatre (level 0)
  • Planetarium (located between exhibits on level 2)
  • Numeric crossroads (level −1)
  • City of careers (level −1)
  • City of health (level −1)
  • Meeting place (level −1)
  • Aquarium (level −2)
  • Jean bertin hall (level 0)
  • Condorcet hall (level 0)
  • Picnic area (level 0)
  • Post office (level 0)
  • Store for scientific books and toys (level 0)
  • Restaurants (level −2)

History

The building is constructed around the vast steel trusses of an abattoir sales hall on which construction had halted in 1973. The transformation, commissioned on 15 September 1980, was designed by the architect Adrien Fainsilber and engineer Peter Rice. It was opened on 13 March 1986, inaugurated by François Mitterrand upon the occasion of the encounter of the Giotto space probe with Halley's Comet.

Floor Directory

Exhibitions Shows Resources Facilities
Level 2 Two permanent + two temporary exhibitions

Activity points
Planetarium Snack bar
Level 1 Six permanent + two temporary exhibitions + a greenhouse


Activity points
Snack bar
Level 0 Cité des Enfants, 2–7-year-olds
Cité des Enfants, 5–12-year-olds
Shadows and light
Argonaute submarine
Louis-Lumière cinema
Cinaxe cinema
Library (BSI) – children's section
Auditorium
Information desk, ticket desk
Café, Shop
Post office
Cloakroom
Cash machine
Level −1 Multimedia Library (BSI)
Vocal guidance
Health Information
Digital Forum
La Villette Conference Centre
Group Cloakroom
Level −2 Géode Aquarium Restaurant
Cafeteria
Café
Car Parks

Access

It is accessible by Métro line 7 at the Porte de la Villette station and by bus lines PC2, 139, 150, 151, 249, and 75. The tramway 3b was opened in December 2012[2]

See also

References

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  2. RATP

External links