Paris Sightseeing for families
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Featured Sights - Paris for children and adults:
Paris is well known as a beautiful and culturally rich city, which would
classify it as a city for adults. Paris also has much to offer children
and families. Many museums organize special programs for children of different
age groups. Among these are: Centre Georges Pompidou and Musée
d'Orsay.
Marne-la-Valle
Tel: 01 60 30 60 30
Open all year, but hours vary with the season
Admission charged. (One two or three day passports available.)
RER: Chessy - end of the line. Free shuttle bus from there (or walk the
few feet to park entrance) Disneyland Paris is part of a huge resort that
is one-fifth the size of Paris! There are six hotels, an area of wooded
campsites, restaurants, shops, golf and tennis, and night entertainment.
The theme park offers five main areas: Main Street USA featuring exhibits
and rides recalling small town America of the early 1900's; Frontierland,
a reenactment of the frontier days in the US with a steam powered train,
a petting farm, and Indian village; Adventureland which has a pirate and
buried treasure theme; Fantasyland with rides and exhibits based on Disney
film characters; and Discoveryland which focuses on space exploration,
rockets, beyond - earth planetary adventures, and time travel.
Find out more about Disneyland
Paris
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Cité de Sciences
30 Avenue Corentin-Cariou
tel.: 01 36 68 29 36
Tues.-Sun. 10-6 (Sunday until 7pm)
Metro: Porte de la Villette
Admission charged.
Cité de l'Industrie
221 Avenue Jean-Jaures
tel.: 01 44 84 44 84
Tues.-Sat. Noon-6 Sun. 10-6
Metro: Porte de Pantin
Admission charged at each attraction.
LaVillette is a modern 35 acre park dotted with sculptures and fountains.
It is devoted to science and music. The site once held the city's slaughter
houses, but was converted in recent years to something quite different!
The Argonaute, a former French navy submarine, and now a naval museum
provides not only instruction, but also a climbing delight for young visitors.
The main exhibition is called Explora. It is a vast science playground
covering two whole floors and containing 18 sections. Among interactive
subject areas covered are: space, the oceans, gardens of the future, the
environment, automobiles, aeronautics, stars and galaxies, computer science,
energy, rocks and volcanoes, medicine, health, sound, biology, and light
games.
In the Space exhibit, a full sized reconstruction of a moon walk, a space
station, and a satellite are found. A favorite display with children is
a deep sea submarine in the Ocean area and another is the aeronautic exhibit
with its Mirage Jet Fighter plane.
Next to the center is the Geode planetarium which holds a theater with
a giant hemispheric screen. The Cinaxe Theater (which is a multisensory
movie theater) is also in the complex. It uses 3D visual technology to
simulate a voyage to the bottom of the sea and a virtual trip through
its wonders.
Cité des Enfants
This is a science and nature interactive museum specifically for children
ages 3-11 (one parent must accompany each child). Examples of activities
in this extremely popular attraction are: in one room a group of young
children are hard at work on a mini construction site, wearing plastic
hard hats as they learn about machinery and methods of construction. In
another area older children learn how to program a video game. An aquarium
contains 200+ species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and seaweed.
Nearby is the Cité de la Musique, a complex devoted entirely to
music and home of the Conservatoire National de Musique. Over 4500 musical
instruments are displayed in the museum.
Grévin Wax Museum
10 Boulevard Montmarte
tel.: 01 40 26 28 50
2-6pm
Admission is charged.
Metro: rue Montmarte
The museum contains not only life sized figures of famous people, but
also vivid historical scenes from French history. Children will enjoy
the "fun house" mirrors that distort the images of those who
look in them.
Musée de la Marine (Navy Museum)
Place du Trocadéro
Tel.: 01 53 65 69 69
10-6 daily (closed Tuesday)
Admission charged.
Metro: Trocadéro
With the help of scale models and actual vessels, the museum gives the
history of maritime transport from battleships to pleasure craft. Ships
and ships artifacts of the explorers are included.
Musée de la Poupée
Impasse Berthand near 22 rue Beaubourg
01 42 72 73 11
Metro: Rambouteau
10-6 daily (closed Mondays)
Admission charged.
This charming little museum is not far from the Pompidou Center. It opened
in June, 1994 and houses the private doll collection of a father and his
son: Guido Odin and Sammy Odin. The 300 dolls on display are all posed
in various tableau complete with furniture, little toys and other props.
Zoo de Paris
53 Avenue de St. Maurice
01 44 75 20 10
9-6 (summer) 9-5:30 (winter)
Admission charged.
Metro: Porte Dorée, Chateau de Vincennes
This is one of the largest zoos in Europe. The grounds are beautifully
landscaped, and the animal habitats are very natural. A highlight is the
200 foot artificial mountain laid out to support several platforms which
is home to herds of free ranging mountain goats.
Jardin du Luxembourg
RER: Luxembourg/ Metro: Odéon
A lovely park with beautiful lawns and gardens and a well equipped playground
for children. There is even a sand pit for their enjoyment and a pond
on which to sail toy boats. There are pony rides and puppet shows. For
older visitors there are tennis courts.
France Miniature
08 36 68 53 35
Mar. - Nov. 10-7
Admission charged.
SNCF train from La Défense to Verniere them Sqybus no. 411. This
remarkable attraction consists of 150 miniature sites of some of France's
most notable attractions. It took 53 architects and model makers over
two years to build! Each model is in exact geographic context. All features
of the exhibit are built to scale, including the cars, boats and people.
In the summer evenings fireworks are offered. Please telephone for schedules
and admission charge.
Parc Asterix
60128 Plailley
tel.: 01 36 68 30 10
10-6 daily ;weekend 10-7 (April-October)
Admission charged.
RER: Roissey, then shuttle service to the park.
This unique amusement park has the theme of the Astérix comic strips
(created by Albert Uderzo) in which brilliant and crafty Gauls living
2000 years ago outwit their Roman conquerors. Astérix is the hero
and has a sidekick named Obelix who is large and strong. In addition to
the rides and exhibits in this adventure theme park there are activities
for the whole family to enjoy that will fill more than a day. A favorite
with parents is the Via Antiqua with its quaint shops. The Rue de Paris
is the recreation of a medieval square with acrobats and jugglers and
restaurants that all will enjoy.
Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars
Tel: 01 44 11 23 23
9:30am-11pm daily. (until midnight in summer)
Admission charged.
Métro: Trocadéro or Bir-Hakeim
RER: Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel
Children will enjoy particularly the trip to the top and the excitement
of looking out from that height. If you think you may ride instead of
climbing up all the stairs, remember to go early and to go on a weekday
ahead of the crowds to avoid the long waits for the elevators. On a clear
day the viewing platforms offer visitors willing and able to wait in line
for the elevators, a spectacular glimpse of the city and surrounding area.
Just southeast of the tower is a grassy expanse that was once the site
of the world's first balloon flights and is now used by teens as a skateboarding
arena.
Bateaux-mouches
River cruises on the Seine river are a delightful way to sightsee for
the whole family.
The Jardin des Plantes
Entrances - rue Cuvier, rue Buffon and Place Valhubert
Tel.: 01 40 79 30 00
7:30-8 (summer) Closed Tuesdays.
Admission charged.
Metro: Gare d' Austerlitz
The park is an ideal place to spend a relaxing afternoon where the children
can be free to move about and explore as you watch them from one of the
many benches shaded by trees. There is a small zoo and extensive gardens.
One of these is the Jardin Alpin containing over 2000 species of plants
from the Alps to the Himalayas. The Jardin d'Hiver houses heavily scented
tropical plants and flowers. There is also a maze to solve and an herb
garden filled with medicinal plants.
Halle St. Pierre
Rue Ronsard
01 42 58 72 89
Mon.-Sat. 10-6
Metro: Anvers, Abbesses
Admission charged.
Located at the foot of the hill leading to Sacre Coeur in Montmartre,
just to the right of the working carousel, is a large building that formerly
housed the market. It has now been turned into a cultural center for children.
Local mothers take their children there to watch puppet shows, to take
part in art workshops, and to eat food in the family friendly café.
There is also an art gallery for the children which features pictures
that are especially appealing to children.
Pariscope
11 bis rue Scribe
01 42 66 62 06
Fax 01 42 66 62 16
Summer: 9-9
Winter : 9-6
Admission charged.
Metro: Opéra.
This award winning multimedia production is something children will tolerate
and probably enjoy. The 45 minute presentation uses 25 projectors and
offers viewers headphones with a choice of translations in 11 languages.
It shows the development of major cities and of Paris in particular. It
is shown every hour on the hour.
Jardin d'Acclimatation
Bois de Boulogne
01 40 67 90 82
Metro: Porte Maillot, Dsablons
Summer 10-7
Winter 10-6
Admission charged.
LePetit train is a mock steam train that runs Wed.,Sat.,Sun. every 15
minutes from 11-6 and every school holiday. from Porte Maillot station
to the Jardin. The park covers 25 acres and is a children's amusement
park. It has a small zoo, a petting zoo, a hall of mirrors, a marionette
theater, a golf course, roller coaster, riverboat ride, bowling, archery,
mini motorbike course and two children's museums.
Au Nain Bleu
406-410 rue St. Honoré (North of Place de Concorde)
01 42 60 39 01
Metro: Concorde, Madeleine
Mon.-Sat. 9:45-6:30
Paris's greatest toy shop. Founded in 1836, it has a vast array of interesting
toys and games of high quality.
Samitaine
19 rue de la Monnaie
01 40 41 20 20
Metro: Port Neuf, Chatelet
Mon.-Sun. 9;30-7 Thurs. 9:30-10:00
A huge department store on the banks of the Seine with the best toy selection
of any store in Paris. There is a carousel for the children to ride when
they tire of examining the enormous selection of toys.
Circuses
Cirque de Paris: A Day at the Circus
115 Blvd. Charles de Gaulle
tel:01 47 99 40 40
Fax: 01 47 99 02 22
Oct.-June Wed. and Sun. Lasts all day from 10-5 (show from 3-5)
Metro: Porte de Clignacourt
Admission charged.
In the morning children try their hand at circus skills and train with
the clowns, magicians, trapeze artists and tight rope walkers. They then
eat lunch with the performers and watch them prepare for and put on the
afternoon circus performance. A favorite for birthday parties.
Cirque Tzigane Romanes
12 Avenue de Clichy
01 43 87 16 38
Metro: Place de Clichy
Daily at 8:30pm. Sept.-May Saturday 3 and 5
Admission charged.
Cirque d'Hiver
110 rue Amelot
01 47 00 12 25
Metro: Filles du Calvaire
Call for show times.
Admission charged.
Started in 1852, this was originally called the Cirque Napoleon. It is
probably the most famous circus in the world. It now hosts a variety of
visiting troupes.
Puppet and Marionette Theaters
Guignol du Jardin d'Acclimatation
Jardin d'Acclimatation Bois de Boulogne
01 45 01 53 52
Metro: Les Sablons
Take La Petit Train from Porte Maillot
Shows are on Wed.,Sat., Sunday at 3 and 4 pm
Marionettes des Champs-Elysées
Jardin des Champs-Elysées by the Rond Point
01 40 35 47 20
Metro: Champs-Elysées - Clemenceau
Shows Wed., Sat., Sun. at 3:00, 4:00, 5:00.
Marionettes du Luxemborg
Jardin du Luxemborg
Tel.: 01 43 26 46 47
Metro: Vavin, Notre Dame des Champs
Shows: Wed., Sat., Sun. from 3pm.
Marionettes de Montsouris
Parc Montsouris
01 46 63 08 09
Metro: Cité Universitaire
Shows: Tues., Sat., Sun. from 3pm.
Marionettes du Parc
Georges Brassens
Parc Georges Brassens
01 48 42 51 80
Metro: Porte de Venves
Shows: Wed., Sat., Sun. from 3pm
Carousels can be found at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, in front of the
Jardin du Trocadéro, in Parc Moceau, at the foot of the stairway
in front of Sacre Coeur, by the entrance to Metro St. Paul in Place des
Buttes Chaumont , and in front of the Grande Arche de la Défense.
Activities
Paris' s weekly entertainment pamphlets, Pariscope and L'Officiel des
Spectacles, list up to date information in French on every imaginable
outdoor activity. Look for listings on randonnées pédestres
(hiking in groups), cyclisme (biking), escalade (rock climbing), parachuting,
canoeing, squash, tennis and swimming, among others. Among uniquely Parisian
activities, consider drifting lazily down the Seine or down one of the
city's canals in a boat. Rentals are available year round.
Publications Listing Activities and Events in English
The Paris Free Voice is a free monthly guide to Paris arts, entertainment
and restaurants. Available at English-language bookstores and American
restaurants and bars.
Irish Eyes is a free monthly guide to Irish arts, music, restaurants,
bars and other events in Paris. Available in English-language bookshops
and Irish restaurants and bars.
Pariscope, the weekly Paris entertainment guide contains a six-page English
supplement by the staff of the British Time Out guides. More info
(Figaroscope, the free weekly supplement of Le Figaro, is in French,
but fairly easy to decipher and an excellent guide to what's going on
in the city.)
 Tip: Buy
a Paris Guide online!
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