Palais de la Découverte – Hands-On Science In The Center Of Paris

For anyone coming to Paris with children — or with an inquiring mind — Palais de la Découverte is an essential stop. This hands-on science museum in the 8th Arrondissement is the hands-down favorite with kids and their parents. The permanent exhibits are fascinating, and the special exhibitions keep us coming back.

Palais de la Découverte is currently closed for renovations. It's part of the overall upgrading of the Grand Palais complex for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris.

This has been on our Paris route for many years, and even though our son Alexandre has grown up, Palais de la Découverte is still the first place he shows to friends who come to Paris. The museum is pretty much right in the centre of things, attached to the Grand Palais, just off the Champs-Elysées, about half-way between the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. Come and see what the palais has to offer in its eight departments.

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Experience the Splendor Of Versailles

Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
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Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles
If you don't have a full day, this popular half-day tour of Versailles includes priority access with an expert guide. The small-group ensures personal attention and includes transportation right from your hotel.
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Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
More information…

Life Sciences

Life Sciences

This large department is sort of like the biology class of the palais. There's an area exploring animal communication, like cricket calls and frog ribbits. Another section explores human biology. Our favorite area has always been L'École des Rats — that's right, Rat School. It's about behavior in animals and humans, featuring a maze that rats learn to travel. Recently the museum added a large, live ant farm, featuring leaf-cutter ants, and that's captured our interest as well.

Eureka

Palais de la Découverte

Eureka may well be the most fun part of the museum. Here there are more than 30 ways to play with science. Learn how pulleys work with hands-on playing… er, studying! The idea here is that the physics experiments and games help children to understand what they learn about in science class at school and in the other rooms of the museum.

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Delectable Food Tours in Paris

Discover the Food & Wine of the Marais
Visit the top food & wine shops in the historic Marais, tasting the best of French foods. There's plenty of sampling on this small-group tour.
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Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
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Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
Check Availability…

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Astronomy & Astrophysics

The first planetarium in France was built at Palais de la Découverte and it's still operating today. It's a dome 50 feet in diameter with a giant sun gear that reproduces the starry night sky. Objects in space visible to the naked eye are also shown. The fun thing is that you can view the sky and celestial phenomena as they looked from any point of the Earth, at any time in history. There are demonstration sessions at various times of day throughout the week.

Other Departments at Palais de la Découverte

Palais de la Découverte, Chemistry

The Chemistry department features hands-on displays, but also ongoing demonstrations by scientists. Over in Geosciences there are displays related to dinosaurs, volcanoes, tectonic plates, mountains, and even the geology of Mars.

Mathematics features talks by prominent teachers, but is also filled with recreational, math games and puzzles. Physics is all about the wonders of… physics. The newest area is Computer Science & Digital Science.

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Go Deeper Into France: Day Trips From Paris

Small-Group Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip from Paris
Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. This small-group tour travels in a luxury Eurovan.
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Mysterious Mont Saint-Michel
The magnificent floating island of Mont Saint-Michel is a sight to behold. Travel through the picturesque Normandy countryside with an expert guide on a day trip from Paris that includes a cider tasting
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Small-Group Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip from Paris
Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. Your small group travels in a luxury Eurovan.
Check Availability…

Temporary Exhibitions

Special Exhibitions

We've seen wonderful special shows at Palais de la Découverte and have never been disappointed. Exhibitions about dinosaurs, about great apes, even about human hair. We remember one show called Pasteur the Innovator. A very popular exhibition was about the science of Star Wars. Alexandre recently reminded us about the Ice Age show and the fascinating exhibition about cave dwellers and early human societal groups.

Palais de la Découverte Resources

Palais de la Découverte

  • Avenue Franklin-D-Roosevelt
  • 8th Arrondissement
  • Metro Stations – Champs Elysées-Clemenceau and Franklin-D-Roosevelt
  • Website

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