Parc de la Villette

I went to Parc de la Villette with the kids yesterday. Our plan had been to go to the Jardin de vent et des dunes, a great play area with a wide range of things to leap off...and on...and around. Despite getting there reasonably early (13h30) the place was heaving with approximately 5 gazillion centre loisirs (school holiday centres) with the same idea as us. Pretty quickly the kids said "can we leave, there are too many children." So we did. The Parc de la Villette is huge with big expanses of grass and lots of different 'sub-parks' with plenty of things to leap off...and on...and around.

The most striking building for me in La Villette Cité des Sciences complex is the mirrored Géode omnimax theatre made up from 6433 triangular mirrored panels. It always looks fantastic, whatever the weather. 

The main museum, built in a former abattoir looks stunning as well, especially when the sun is shining.

There are of course the 26 red follies designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, that lie in a grid across the whole park area.

Yesterday when we were at the park I tried to take some photos that captured some atypical view points and scenes.

Here is the Géode looming with intent.

Here is the globe peeking through a red folly.

We saw some cows.

I saw some lovely light patterns.

The follies through the trees looking intriguing.

I'm not sure what this building is for, but I liked the stripes.

The Grande halle de la Villette is a huge iron and glazed structure, built between 1865 and 1867. It was the former covered market where cattle was sold. It has been completely restored now and houses exhibitions. From the outside.

The park seems to generate mysterious forces every time we go.

You can find more photos of Parc de la Villette on my Flickr account here.