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BUILDINGS

Below are some other buildings around the city that deserve attention. Also, don’t forget to take a look at museums, monuments, districts and to visit.

BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE


Source:
www.parisbalades.com
On the 14th of July 1988, during his annual televised address from the Parc de l’Elysée, the President of the Republic announced “the construction of one of the largest and most modern libraries in the world, which will cover all the fields of human knowledge, will be open to all, and will use the most modern technology in data transmission, so that the information stored therein will be accessible from other European libraries. On the 8th of October 1998, the opening of the research library marked the completion of this grand project. Today known as the BNF (bibliothèque nationale de France).The National Library of France was formed through a fusion of the previous national library and the Establishment of Public Libraries in France. It displays its collections and fulfils its functions on various sites:-The François-Mitterrand site (Collections of printed material, periodics, audiovisual and computer documents)
-The Richelieu site, (Collections of manuscripts, etchings and photography, maps, coins, medals and antiques, music, stage arts)
-L'Arsenal
-La Bibliothèque Musée de l'Opéra (Music)
-La Maison Jean Vilar in Avignon (Theatre) (For more information : category "monuments/buildings").


CENTRE GEORGES POMPIDOU BEAUBOURG CONTEMPORAIN


Source:
www.parisbalades.com
Le centre Georges Pompidou
M° Rambuteau, Les Halles
R.E.R. Châtelet les Halles
Tel: 01 44 78 12 33
Opening:
Monday, Wednesday – Friday 12.00 – 22.00, Saturday & Sunday 10.00 – 22.00

 

CITE DES SCIENCES ET DE L’INDUSTRIE


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www.parisbalades.com
La cité des sciences et de l'industrie, avenue Corentin Cariou (la cité des sciences)
(métro Porte de la Villette) (tel. 01 36 68 29 30, 08 36 68 29 30, open 10.00-18.00 except Monday)(architecte Adrien Fainsilber, 1986) The museum occupies a building which was originally constructed in 1969 to serve as a sales hall for the city’s new abattoirs. The Cité is also home to a planetarium, an aquarium, the Cité des enfants (for children of 3-12 years), "Techno Cité" – where some 60 experiments allow anyone over the age of 11 to discover how technology works, the Cité des metiers (on vocations and professions, free entry, closed Sundays), a media library and a cinema devoted to science

 

LA GEODE


Source:
www.parisbalades.com
(tel. 01 40 05 80 00, or 01 36 68 29 30, shows every hour from 10.00 – 21.00, closed Mondays during the school period, reservation recommended) (architect Adrien Fainsilber, 1985)

OPERA GARNIER DE PARIS


Source:
www.parisbalades.com
Désormais "Palais de la danse", place de l'Opéra (l'Opéra de Paris) (métro Opéra)
(tel. 01 40 01 22 63 or 01 40 01 25 14, open 10.00-16.30, guided visit every day from 12.00, minimum 10 persons per group, English language visits: 01 40 01 22 63) (architecte Charles Garnier, 1874)

Built by Charles Garnier in 1874, the opera house is somewhere between the baroque and neo-renaissance styles. The façade and the interior are resplendent with sculptures and decorations that responded to the tastes of the decadent high society of the late 19th century: luxurious, grand and depictive. In 1964, Malraux was commissioned by Chagall to decorate the ceiling of the arena. Accommodating 2130 spectators, the great red and gold amphitheatre is situated exactly in the centre of the building. Since the opening of the Opéra Bastille, the Opéra Garnier has become the Palais de la Danse and is now devoted to ballet.

 

OPERA DE LA BASTILLE


Source:
www.parisbalades.com
2-6 place de la Bastille, 12th (l'Opéra de Paris)
(Métro Bastille)
(Métro Bastille) (tél. 01 44 73 13 00, open during the day for ticket sales, guided tours by arrangement – minimum 10 persons.
tel. 01 40 01 19 70) (Architect Carlos Ott, 1989).

One of the “great works” commissioned by François Mitterand, the new opera house was completed in 1989. It was situated at Place de la Bastille in the east of Paris, a site famous for its role in the French revolution, to reinvigorate the capital’s eastern side.
Inside, the great white hall is decorated with contemporary sculptures (Niki de Saint-Phalle, Klein). The amphitheatre of granite and oak seats 2700 spectators and boasts two stages, which allows shows to be alternated without the dismantling of stage décor, thanks to 9 “clearing areas”.


LA TOUR MONTPARNASSE


Source:
www.parisbalades.com
Place Raoul Dautry, 15è
tour montparnasse vue panoramique

(tel. 01 45 38 52 56, open 9.30 – 22.00 in winter: 1st October – 31st March; 23.00 in summer)
(architects Eugène Beaudoin, Urbain Cassan, Louis Hoym de Marien, Jean Saubot, 1973). Concevied in 1958, the Montparnasse tower (210 metres high) was not finished until 1973. Within the district where it is situated, the tower was designed to frame the view from the Rue de Rennes without blocking that view, which it achieves because of its slightly off-centre position. The advantage of towers, of course, is that they offer a great view of the city… (from the belvedere and the 56th floor restaurant).

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