Cité de la Musique

Photo courtesy of La Cité de Musique

La Cité de la Musique “The Cité” is a perfect attraction for all age groups on a rainy day in Paris.  It is, as the name implies, a mini-city that houses all things music.  Former French President François Mitterrand finished this project as one of his last contributions to Paris while at the helm of France.  The Cité website states that this venue “is aimed at all audiences:  music lovers, youth, artists and budding artists, amateurs and professionals.”

Inside The Cité are facilities that showcase all genres of music in unique ways.  There is the Music Museum “Musée de la Musique” that not only lets the tourists see the instruments of yesterday, it also allows visitors to hear any type of music from their extensive audio library.  Local musicians share their talents daily and they host seminars about music as well as forums for discussion to enhance the experience.  Guided tours are available.

The complex also houses an incredible concert hall that is The Cité’s “la pièce de résistance!”  With its superior acoustic quality and capacity to seat 1,000 music lovers, this venue is fantastic for the concerts that are performed there.  Many concerts are free and the ranges in music performed there is as varied as grains of sand on the beach.

Complete with a bookshop and Café de la Musique for creative cuisine, you can spend a whole day into the evening at The Cité without worrying about the weather outside!

Location

Cité de la Musique

221 avenue Jean-Jaurès, 75019 Paris Tel:  33 (0)1 44 84 45 00 Métro:  Line 5 Ourcq