In the 19e between avs Jean-Jaurès and Corentin-Cariou; tel 01.40.03.75.75, www.la-villette.com. M° Porte-de-Pantin/Porte-de-la-Villette. Daily 6am–1am; entry to park free.As well as the Cité des Sciences, various satellite attractions, and wide-open spaces to run around or picnic in, the Parc de la Villette has a series of ten themed gardens, some specially designed for kids. Polished steel monoliths hidden amongst the trees and scrub cast strange reflections in the Jardin des Miroirs, while Le Jardin des Brouillards has jets and curtains of water at different heights and angles. Formalized shapes of dunes and sails, windmills and inflated mattresses make up the Jardin des Vents et des Dunes (under-12s only and their accompanying adults). Strange music creates a fairytale or horror-story ambience in the imaginary forests of the Jardin des Frayeurs Enfantines. The Jardin des Voltiges has an obstacle course with trampolines and rigging. Small bronze figures lead you through the vines and other climbing plants of the Jardin de la Treille; and the Jardin des Bambous is filled with the sound of running water. On the north side of the canal de l'Ourcq is the extremely popular eighty-metre-long Dragon Slide. Some of the park's "follies" have activities for kids: video editing in the Folie Vidéo and a game-filled crèche for 2- to 5-year-olds in the Petite Folie, both on the south bank of the canal de l'Ourcq. There are also arts activities for 7- to 10-year-olds in the Folie des Arts Plastiques, by the northeast corner of the Grande Halle (details on 01.40.03.75.03 or see website).
|