Child’s Play Takes a Cultural Turn in Paris
There is no lack of museums in Paris but it can often be difficult to find just the right museum that parents and children can equally enjoy. We’ve got your cultural back and have found three extraordinary exhibits that the whole family can delight in and learn from. You can all experience Parisian culture with a childlike flair.
Meeting THE Little Prince
Just a short walk from Apartments du Louvre St Honoré is the MAD, the French acronym for the Museum of Decorative Arts. From now until June 26th 2022, you can be dazzled by the first major exhibit totally dedicated to the immortal classic by Antoine Saint-Exupery, “The Little Prince.” The exhibition is called “An Encounter with the Little Prince” and is a fanciful look into the story-within-the-story of the most popular book ever written, the most translated book after the Bible! On loan from the Morgan Library & Museum in New York, the exhibit boasts over 600 items including the original manuscript, poems, newspaper clippings, photos and extracts from the author’s correspondence. The captivating fairy tale about the little blond boy from the Asteroid B 612 can still teach us a lot about friendship, love, technical progress, consumerism and humanity in general. As Antoine Saint-Exupery said in his masterpiece, “All grown-ups were once children…but only few of them remember it.”
Visit the Little Prince exhibit with your family and you will certainly find something to remember together. The museum is closed on Mondays. It is highly recommended to reserve online on their official website www.madparis.fr
A La Rencontre du Petit Prince - Musée des Arts Décoratif
Ongoing now until June 26th 2022
107 rue de Rivoli, 75001
Tuesday-Sunday
11:00-18:00 with nocturnal until 21:00 on Thursdays
Musee en Herbe – For Ages 3 - 103
Just across the street from Apartments du Louvre St Honoré, you will find a fun children’s museum that will appeal to young and old alike. It’s called Musee en Herbe and prides itself on being an intergenerational space bringing cultural discoveries to families. It’s a relatively small but cozy museum which specializes in pop art for kids. The present exhibit is entitled “Mondes Imaginaires” (Imaginary Worlds) which features the work of a pioneer of French Street Art, Speedy Graphito. Speedy, who has been called an anthropologist of modern times, uses stencils and brush movement to create colorful paintings and street art murals. There are about 40 of his creations in the exhibit which includes an imaginative space tunnel.
Besides feasting on the visual allure of Speedy’s artwork, children can participate in creative workshops where they can produce their own street art. You can register your budding artist for an art session and leave with an original creation inspired by “Mondes Imaginaires”. Check out the official website at www.museeenherbe.com.
Monde Imaginaire at Musée en Herbe
Ongoing now until November 6th 2022
23 rue de l'Arbre Sec, 75001
Monday-Sunday
10:00-19:00
Reservations required
Pop Air, An Uncommon, Airy Playground
If you’re looking for an out of the ordinary artistic experience, try visiting “Pop Air”, an inflatable, whimsical, immersive exhibit at La Grande Halle de la Villette. In partnership with Rome’s Balloon Museum, “Pop Air” targets both children and adults with its colorful, playful and huge balloon structures. Fifteen emerging international artists have created a universe where your imagination can run free (and so can your kids)! There are crazy, giant, original creatures looming around every corner. Mammoth, vivacious flowers and blimp-like plants. The kids will enjoy the enormous ball pit and soap bubbles. The entire hands-on experience is well worth the visit and is just a direct bus or subway ride from Apartments du Louvre.
Pop Air - Grande Halle de La Villette
211 Avenue Jean Jaures, 75019
Monday-Friday 14:00-20:00
Saturday-Sunday 10:00-20:00
Reservations required
There you have it – just a few suggestions to get your kids into a Parisian museum where princes, artists and bubbles abide.