History

The settlement of La Villette is first mentioned in 1198.
In the 18th century, La Villette is still an agricultural village on the outskirts of Paris, lying on an age-old route to the north, the east and Germany.
In 1812 Napoleon opens a canal from the river Ourcq to provide Paris with water. The Canal de l'Ourcq and its continuation, the Bassin de La Villette, are opened to barge traffic.
From 1867, Baron Haussmann, Prefect of the Seine département, brings the city's abattoirs and cattle markets together at La Villette.
By 1900, 23,000 sheep and 5,000 head of cattle are slaughtered each day.
To cope with a burgeoning meat market, the facilities are modernized in 1930 and again in 1950.
Construction of a huge auction market attached to the abattoirs is launched in the 1960s.
However, with the arrival of refrigerated trucks, livestock are slaughtered closer to farms.
Building work is halted in 1971, the year the "La Villette scandal" breaks.
The last industrial abattoir at La Villette closes in 1974.

In 1977 President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing launches a plan to reconvert the La Villette site.
In 1979 work begins on redeveloping the 55 hectares of wasteland and buildings. The Etablissement Public du Parc de La Villette is set up. It is headed by former EDF chairman Paul Delouvrier, in charge of developing the site.
Physicist Maurice Lévy drafts a report specifying the scope of a museum of science, technology and industry to be housed in the unfinished building originally intended as an auction market for the La Villette abattoirs.
In 1980, 27 architects enter a competition for the design of a National Museum of Science, Technology and Industry. It is won by Adrien Fainsilber, whose project encompasses both the site and its surrounding environment. He creates a strong link between the museum and the adjoining park, turning the character of the building to its best advantage.
The building's design reflects three key themes: water surrounds the museum, vegetation is present inside it (in a large bioclimatic greenhouse facing the park), and light enters the building through two domes 17 metres in diameter.
On 13 March 1986, with Halley's Comet overhead, the Cité des sciences et de l'Industrie is opened by President François Mitterrand.

1977: President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing launches a plan to reconvert the La Villette site.
1979: The Etablissement Public du Parc de La Villette, headed by Paul Delouvrier, is set up to redevelop the 55-hectare site. Physicist Maurice Lévy drafts a report specifying the scope of a future museum of science, technology and industry at La Villette.
1985: The Géode giant-screen cinema opens. It is designed by architect Adrien Fansilber in collaboration with engineer Gérard Chamayou.
1986: The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is opened by President François Mitterrand.
1992: The Cité des Enfants opens for children.
2002: The Collège de la Cité is launched.
2005: The Digital Forum (Carrefour Numérique) opens.
2006: The Cité is 20 years old. It has welcomed some 64 million visitors, an average of over 3 million a year.
2007: A new-generation Cité des Enfants opens for children aged 2 to 7.
2008: A new permanent exhibition opens, The story of the universe.
2009: A new Cité des Enfants opens for children aged 5 to 12.
2009: A new permanent exhibition opens, Earthwatch: the satellite revolution.

Last update: December 2009

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