In 2020, the Palais de la Découverte, the famous science museum in Paris, closes its doors for a lengthy renovation. Five years later, the work is complete and the site is preparing to reopen to the public. However, the Palais de la Découverte hasn't quite disappeared in those five years.
To keep the public informed and amazed, the museum has opened a temporary branch in the 15th arrondissement: Les Étincelles du Palais de la Découverte. Conferences, demonstrations, festivals, events: a rich program has been put together to keep this curious and scientific spirit alive in Paris.
The party's coming to an end, however: the Palais de la Découverte is getting ready to go back into operation. The museum aims to reopen to the public on June 5, 2025, with a special festival running until October. After that, the site will close again to finalize work on the interior. The museum's full and definitive reopening is scheduled for 2026.
But what will become of the Etincelles once the main museum reopens? At a press conference, Bruno Maquart, President of Universcience (the institution that manages the Cité des Sciences and the Palais de la Découverte), said that the Étincelles had reached the end of their life: the site was always intended to be temporary.
Bruno Maquart explains that the Étincelles du 15e arrondissement will remain in operation this summer, during the Palais de la Découverte festival, but at a reduced rate. The venue will resume its normal programming in October 2025, until the Palais officially reopens.
Les Étincelles will therefore continue to operate until 2026, closing shortly before the museum reopens.
Official website
www.palais-decouverte.fr
