Parc de la Villette

This 'green city' combines luxurious vegetation with contemporary architecture.  Alongside bamboo trees, vines and blue ferns, the park is punctuated with small red structures in original forms - known as 'madness' - and of course the famous Géode, an immense spherical cinema made of steel that boasts a giant hemispheric screen.

For a refreshing pause, take a walk along the canal de l'Ourq that runs through the park. A veritable cultural centre, sprinkled with various structures dedicated to the arts. Families visiting the Cité des Sciences or playing in 'wind garden' blend in with the young concert crowd at the Zenith, Trabendo or Cabaret Sauvage.

Music students at the Paris conservatory leave behind the classroom for a bit of improving on the lawn before heading to one of the restaurants in the park. A number of special events are also organised. In the summer months don't miss the chance to see a film in the outdoor cinema, a jazz concert or a circus show under the giant tent.