The Science Festival 2026 returns from October 2 to 12 across France, delivering thousands of free activities designed to bring research closer to the public. In the Île-de-France region, museums, universities, laboratories and cultural centers open their doors to offer workshops, demonstrations and chances to meet scientists. This 35th edition, under the theme "Savory Science," invites people of all ages to explore the links between science, food, health, the environment and heritage through formats accessible to everyone.
On this occasion, Archéa, the musée d'Archéologie en Pays de France, in Louvres in the Val-d'Oise, is once again taking part in the event. Opened in 2010, the museum is devoted to the history of the Pays de France, a region located north of Paris, near the aéroport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle. Its collections trace several millennia of human occupation, from Prehistory through the eighteenth century, thanks to numerous discoveries made during regional archaeological digs. Housed in a contemporary building, Archéa brings together original objects, scale models, multimedia displays and educational spaces to make archaeology accessible to everyone.
Heading to Archéa during the Fête de la Science offers a clearer view of how archaeologists work and how objects unearthed during digs illuminate everyday life in ancient populations. The museum speaks to all audiences with a clear display design, scale models, videos, and interactive exhibits that make the collections approachable. It’s also a chance to discover a relatively little-known museum in Val-d’Oise, devoted to the history of the Pays de France and to the many research efforts underway on this territory just north of Paris.
What to do for the Science Festival at museums in Paris and Île-de-France?
In celebration of the 2026 Fête de la Science, from October 2 to 12, numerous museums in Paris and Île-de-France will throw open their doors for a special (and free) program. [Read more]
Unveiling Archaeozoology: From Excavation to the Laboratory
During this activity, we will explore archaeozoology, the field that studies animal remains unearthed during archaeological digs. The bones bear the traces of the relationships human societies have maintained with animals, whether wild or domestic, through hunting, husbandry, food, and even ritual or religious practices. After an introduction to the archaeozoologist’s profession and methods, kids and adults will have the opportunity to observe and handle animal bones, conducting their own analysis to understand what these remains can tell us about people of the past and the animals that lived alongside them. The event will be followed by a friendly tasting break.
Marine Helstroffer-Stahn is a PhD student in the Food Initiative (Sorbonne Université Alliance), specializing in archaeozoology. She joined the Doctoral School 227-DIVONA in October 2025 and is affiliated with the UMR BioArch (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle).
Her thesis project examines the practices of breeding and consuming pork-derived foods from late Antiquity through the Central Middle Ages, and in northern France, using a methodological blend of archaeozoological and biogeochemical analyses. This approach aligns with a renewed scientific movement that foregrounds the place of animals in human societies, their uses and symbolism, and their links to economic and environmental dynamics.
Participation criteria:
• Target audiences: 6–11 years, 11–15 years, 15–18 years, 18–25 years, 25 years and up
• Conditions: Reservation recommended
Schedule: Saturday, October 3 — 2:30–4:30 PM
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Dates and Opening Time
From October 2, 2026 to October 12, 2026
Location
Archéa Museum
56 Rue de Paris
95380 Louvres
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Official website
www.fetedelascience.fr
What to do for the Science Festival at museums in Paris and Île-de-France?
