The Sparks at the Palais de la Découverte, a must-see before they close

The Sparks at the Palais de la Découverte invite curious visitors aged six and up to the André-Citroën Park, open until December 31, 2026. For All Saints’ Day, three cryptography talks are scheduled for October 28.

The “Sparks” of the Palais de la Découverte, set up in the Parc André-Citroën in the 15th arrondissement, welcome visitors through December 31, 2026. This temporary installation extends the Palais’s scientific programming during its renovation. The teams are slated to return to the Palais starting in spring 2027.

In this wooden structure, educators lead talks, experiments, and workshops across seven scientific disciplines. A planétarium also lets visitors explore the night sky with a guide.

For All Saints’ Day 2026, October 28 is devoted in particular to cryptography: a session on classical methods and the career of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, another on modern cryptography and the legacy of Alan Turing, and a third on quantum cryptography. The program also features demonstrations linking chemistry and light, volcanism, the stars and black holes, as well as biology workshops.

On the agenda for the Palais de la Découverte's temporary spaces:

Chemistry: the raw materials of perfumery, hydrogen and more…
Geosciences: earthquakes, a geological walk on Mars, the “A Researcher, a Lab” program…
Physics: light, sound and beyond…
Life sciences: the brain, the heart, DNA, microbes, and the world of ants showcased in terrariums…
Mathematics: hands-on math workshops for all ages…
Computer science and digital technologies: workshops with Thymio robots, exhibits featuring humanoid Nao robots…

Activities are open to everyone starting at age 6, with mandatory online advance booking. Children aged 6 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult who has a ticket. During school holidays, Étincelles is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Outside of holidays, the ticket office is open on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance is at 186 rue Saint-Charles, Jardin Caroline-Aigle. Tickets cost 5.50 € per exhibit or workshop, or 4 € under the sustainable mobility rate when presenting a bike or scooter helmet. Universcience subscribers enjoy free entry under the terms of their pass.

To reach the venue, the easiest options are the Metro line 8 (Balard or Lourmel stations) or line 10 (Javel-André Citroën), the RER C (Pont du Garigliano or Javel stations), or even the T3a tram (Pont du Garigliano stop).

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