Ten top science museums to visit in France

Science is tops in France; at school it is considered far more important than literature or humanities and having a 'bac S' (le baccalauréat scientifique) is far more prestigious than having a 'bac L' (le baccalauréat littéraire). 

It is no wonder then that France has magnificent science museums where you can learn about almost anything, from playing a guitar on the International Space Station (ISS) to building a suspension bridge. 

Science museums are interactive and fun. Many span a bit of everything; maths and statistics, chemistry, physics, aeronautics and space, mechanical and civil engineering, IT and communications technology, geology and the environment. Some are so large, you really need two days to see everything. 

Read also:  The French couple who loved, lived and died studying volcanoes

Cité des Sciences

The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris is aimed at children and adolescents, with the accent on engaging them and presenting science as fun. The site includes an international choice of restaurants and a boutique.

Palais de la Découverte

The Palais de la Découverte might be a better choice if you have a serious interest in science, however. After a five-year renovation, it reopens on 6 June promising completely new displays and five new laboratories where visitors can join workshops performing biology, chemistry and IT experiments.

Meanwhile, the planetarium and astronomical observatory will give visitors a chance to study the sky during the day as well as at night, and will host astronomy courses.

And that isn't all. The Palais de la Découverte also has a Jardin Equatorial that showcases a complete equatorial ecosystem in real conditions. There will be lots of interactive displays and fun activities.

Exploradôme

Still in the capital, the Exploradôme in Vitry-sur-Seine (just outside the périphérique) is another great option. The permanent exhibition consists of 50 interactive displays, grouped around five main themes: energy, climate and weather, illusions, structures and shapes, and movement. The staff are happy to show you experiments you can recreate at home, too. 

Until July 31, the temporary exhibition Anime'Action shows you how to make an animated film. Various techniques are explained, including stop-go motion and cartoon animation. 

The Exploradôme loves the slogan, 'the museum where it is forbidden NOT to touch!' because the exhibits are all meant to be used and tried out. 

At weekends, on Wednesdays and during the school holidays there are a variety of two-hour workshops on subjects including anatomy, robotics, chemistry, and digital technology. Although most are aimed at kids and adolescents, parents are encouraged to go along too.

Cité de l'Espace

For anyone fascinated by outer space, the Cité de l'Espace in Toulouse really is the best place to go. It is a true learning experience rather than a theme park, so don't go expecting rollercoasters and dodgems. 

Allow an entire day, if not a whole weekend, because there is a lot to do. (Wrap up warm if the weather is bad, because some of the best exhibits involve walking around outdoors.) 

Highlights include finding out exactly what the surface of the Moon looks like, and walking through the MIR Space Station, a forerunner of the ISS. This is where Claudie Haigneré worked in 1996 when she became the first Frenchwoman in space.

Read also: Claudie Haigneré: 'I tell women to be bold - and I disagree with Elon Musk about saving our planet'

It is a good idea to check the website before arranging your visit because there are so many special events.

Cité des Télécoms

The Cité des Télécoms in Pleumeur-Bodou (Brittany) is an interesting venue for kids over eight years old.

In the Radôme (an enormous white globe, 50m tall, housing a telecoms antenna), you have to sit down while wearing the headset however - the virtual world is so convincing that people attempting to walk around in it fall over real chairs and bump into real doorways. The exhibitions (an area of 3,000m2) are in an adjacent building and cover the history of telecoms right up to the present, as well as explaining the technology involved. 

Allow at least half a day. If you go in good weather, there are loungers in the park outside along with giant chequers and chess sets, and in the summer you can buy crêpes from a food truck.

Palais de l'Univers et des Sciences

Ten minutes outside Dunkirk (Nord), is the Palais de l'Univers et des Sciences (whimsically nicknamed PLUS), which focuses on Earth, the stars and the universe. Essentially, it is geology, astronomy and biology. 

From April onwards, the exhibition Mission Zéro is about Dunkirk's journey towards carbon neutrality, dealing with planetary limits and giving you a chance to work out your own personal carbon footprint. 

As NASA prepares to return to the Moon, and others are still planning on journeying as far as Mars, robots are becoming increasingly important tools. Discover the challenges of transporting robots from earth into outer space, and the even bigger difficulties of remote-controlling them from millions of miles away. Meanwhile, Mission Plantes is all about discovering how plants live.

Cité Nature

The Cité Nature in Arras is a scientific centre focusing on nature, food and health. It is housed in a converted miner’s lamp factory, and aims to be a cultural as well as a scientific centre.

The displays are suitable for everyone aged three and above. For adults there is a lot of information about the future of food production on the planet, access to water, and the effects of GMOs on biodiversity.

The extensive gardens include medicinal plants, herbs, cacti, vines, a kitchen garden, a maze, a bamboo field and a rose garden. 

There are workshops for kids of all ages. There is also an “afterwork” event on the third Friday of the month, featuring live music.

Micropolis

If insects are your thing, do not miss Micropolis, just north of Millau in Saint-Léons. This is just heaven for lovers of creepie crawlies, which probably includes all children under 10. 

Read also: Visit epic Terra Botanica - France’s magical biodiversity theme park

Cap Sciences

Cap Sciences in Bordeaux offers workshops explaining molecular cuisine, robots, astronomy and green chemistry. 

 There are lots of temporary exhibitions as well as workshops (book ahead) and special events aimed at adults and children. 

The very popular exhibition Dinosaures, Ils Sont Là! runs until May 11. 

Espace des Sciences

In Rennes, the Espace des Sciences is another centre offering a fun introduction to a variety of topics including volcanoes, microbiotics, and the biology and functioning of the brain. 

The planetarium is very popular, as is Le Laboratoire de Merlin, which is full of 'manips' - displays you can manipulate in order to test your knowledge of maths, mechanics, optics, air, energy and movement. Manips include building an arch, experimenting with electrical fields, making a light mobile, and playing with mirror images.

Science from the comfort of your home

If you cannot get out and visit any of these establishments, all is not lost. Various institutions distribute free videos and classes. 

There are a selection of videos of conferences that you can watch at home. Click on the section for children and there are loads of fun, educational games to play. They are all in French which makes them doubly valuable to watch. 

Another great free resource is College de France, which has an amazing selection of educational videos you can watch for free. 

Also, check out FUN (France université numérique) moocs.

And finally there is Kezako with a series of amusing quiz games and other activities to get your brain going. And because it is in French, you get a free language lesson too.