Centre Georges Pompidou

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Place Georges Pompidou
75004 Paris, France
011-33-1-44-78-12-33

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Centre Georges Pompidou Description

A cultural center that houses a contemporary art museum (Musée national d'Art Moderne), a performance venue, a library, a cinema, and more, this is one of Paris's quirkiest places. It's worth visiting to look at from the outside, enjoy the street performances and artists, and soak up the ambiance of local students and foreign travelers around the Igor Stravinsky Fountain that unexpectedly squirts water (have your children look for the elephant and the disembodied lips). You'll all be awed by the inside-out architecture with its exposed wiring and color-coded ventilation ducts. The art collection in the museum is outstanding. There's no better way to spend a rainy day in Paris.

Kid Tips

Toddlers & Pre-K: Check out the special family programming, which includes craft projects related to certain artists, and other parent-child activities for children ages 2-5.

School-Age Kids: There's a children's gallery in the museum (on Level 0) that has kids programs and performances on the weekends and Wednesday afternoons.

Pre-Teens & Teens: On the weekends and in the summer there are street performers and caricature artists on the square outside.

Planning Notes

Stay for a meal. The view of Paris' skyline is breathtaking from the restaurant inside, which is a work of art in itself and some kid-friendly fare (reservations recommended: 011-33-1-44-78-47-99).

Visit the museum. This is an amazing museum of contemporary art, and your children will love looking at the Picassos and Mirós and Kandinskys. They'll also respond to the more contemporary art installations, like the wicker airplane decorated with confiscated luggage from the Tokyo airport.

Go the first Sunday of the month. When the museum is free of charge for everyone.

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