Palais de la Découverte

The Palais de la Découverte (pronounced pah-lay de la day-coo-vairte) is located on Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, just off the Champs Elysées. It’s a discovery museum for children, housed in part of the Grand Palais, which was built for the 1900 World’s Fair (Exposition Universelle).

I had to do a little research, actually, as I knew the Eiffel Tower had also been built around the same time, and was also created for a World Fair. However, the Eiffel Tower was built about a decade before the Grand Palais, and it was used as the entrance to the 1889 World Fair, held to mark the 100-year anniversary of the French Revolution. Though it was nothing new by the turn of the 20th century, the Eiffel Tower was still featured in the 1900 World Fair, along with the newly built Grand and Petit Palais, and the Pont Alexandre III. You can read more about the Grand Palais here, and the Eiffel Tower here.

Now, we visited the Palais de la Découverte before Christmas, but I haven’t had time to write about it until now. I must say that this turns out to be perfect timing, because Alison of Writing, Wishing will be coming to visit ME with her family!

Oh yes, I suppose Paris might possibly have something to do with her visit (yawn), but really you see what an influential blogger I am, right? People come from the Far East to meet me!

So the pressure is on. I need to find some kid-friendly, tourist-worthy destinations, and STAT. So here it goes.

Here is the magnificent Grand Palais from across the Seine. We’re on our way!

It is such an incredible feeling to take a timeout from routine and do something as a family. The kids need this. We need this.

Look! It’s Aslan (says William)! He imitates the cherub.

And in we go.

Wow.

This is a science museum? The Grand Palais was meant to be torn down after the World Fair, along with the other related edifices, such as the Eiffel Tower. But just look at the details that went into building this thing.

the iron stair railings

the sculptures and moulding on the ceilings and columns

looking up

looking down

We don’t spend that much time and effort on things that are meant to last for decades. It’s such a shame architectural beauty is so rarely considered essential these days.

This place is kid heaven.

There are the beasts

the human body

light and telescopes

motion and weights.

There is stuff to listen to

stuff to watch

and plenty of places to sit down

(whether or not a movie is in session).

There are places where daddy and mommy’s help is indispensable

and places where daddy and mommy are just as clueless as the kids are.

This is the Pi room. And the classroom where smart people get to go. #munchesonpeanuts

And there is really so much more – planets, power, electricity – you name it! If it’s related to science, it’s there.

We left before meltdowns from walking and hunger could occur, and walked into early winter nightfall. See how the lights bring these paintings to life on the side of the building?

Alison, I just know the discovery museum in the Grand Palais is one place your kids won’t want to miss. 🙂

Speaking of Alison, she and Greta host weekly photography linkups called “Through the Lens,” and last week’s theme was motion. These pictures from our day at the museum would have been perfect to link up, don’t you think?

This week, the theme is the colour white –

our radiator at home, caught at just the right moment of the day for the sunlight to reflect off the white rows. Which of the two, do you think captures the white better?

If you’re a fan of photography, don’t forget to link up here.

Comments

I love to hear from you, friends. You can comment using the box below or your Facebook profile. But FB doesn't notify me of new comments, so if the post is more than a week old and you want to make sure I see your comment, it's better to use the comment box. Merci!