La Villette Park

A veritable city within a city in the north of Paris, the Parc de la Villette, with its 55 hectares of green space intersected by the Canal de l’Ourcq is a popular destination for Parisians and tourists of all ages. This unique place is perfect for picnicking on its huge lawns, playing ball, or enjoying one of the many contemporary cultural activities on offer, from theatre to the circus.

Built in the 1980s on the site of the former La Villette slaughterhouses, this architectural project was surprisingly audacious. The architect Bernard Tschumi deconstructed traditional urban organisation in favour of architectural follies — cubic buildings scattered throughout the park — that have become the signature of this astonishing place.

Nature and architecture

The numerous playgrounds, gardens, rides, and children’s workshops at Little Villette and the Cité des Enfants make La Villette a kingdom for curious adventurers, who can play, run free or explore the sciences.

In the evening, the park becomes a paradise for music lovers with its 4 concert halls, the Zénith, the Trabendo, the Cabaret Sauvage and the Philharmonie de Paris. In summer, do not miss the Jazz à la Villette festival or the outdoor cinema programme.

Discover the Grande Halle de la Villette, a cultural centre of glass and iron.