SETTLING IN - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 124

Parc de la Villette
Once children have discovered the Parc de la Villette, they may
not want to go anywhere else (tel: [phone]; website:
http://www.villette.com).
Encompassing about 55 hectares at the northeastern edge
of the city, this urban educational park was constructed in
1979 on the site of the city's former slaughterhouse. There
are theme gardens and activity parks, a lighted promenade,
playgrounds, bicycle paths, pony rides, day-care centres,
restaurants, entertainment centres and a spectacular high-
tech, interactive museum. Films, concerts, a planetarium,
undersea exhibits, etc. are all targeted at children, from
preschoolers onwards. The Paris Tourist Office should have
brochures describing La Villette and its schedule of events.
The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie at 30, avenue
Corentin-Cariou, 75019 (tel: [phone]; website:http://
www.cite-sciences.fr) is the ultravmodern, hands-on science
museum. (It is closed on Mondays, 1 May and 25 December.)
The Géode is an enormous hemispheric screen showing
documentaries to viewers seated in the centre (for reservations,
tel: [phone]; website:http://www.lageode.fr).
Educational Entertainment
In addition to museum programmes, educational entertainment
can be found throughout the city. Pariscope and L'Officiel des
Spectacles , the weekly events magazines, have listings for
children's activities, as do the major newspapers. Access the
websites below, which offer up-to-date details on children's
and family activities.
http://www.jeunes.fr
http://www.lamuse.net
http://www.commeundimanche.com
3 e : Musée de la Poupée
Impasse Berthaud; tel: [phone].
http://www.museedelapoupee.com
Doll museum exhibiting some 500 French dolls. Across
the street from the Pompidou Museum, this makes an
interesting outing for all members of the family. Closed
on Monday.