< Introducing Paris

Entertainment

Family Guide
Le Grand Rex, Paris’s most opulent cinema
There is a wealth of opportunities to keep kids – and adults – entertained in Paris, from watching a fairytale ballet at the glamorous Opéra Garnier to being dazzled by a magic show in the Marais. There are circuses, where kids can also learn to perform under the Big Top; unforgettable movies to see; children’s concerts and music workshops; and plenty of activities in the city’s museums, especially on Wednesdays and during the school holidays.

Theatre

Some Paris theatres have children’s matinees on Wednesdays and at weekends, notably Théâtre du Gymnase, Théâtre Dunois, Café d’Edgar and Abricadabra Péniche Antipod, a barge at Parc de La Villette, which also runs theatre and circus workshops for kids. Théâtre de l’Essaïon specializes in classics such as Alice in Wonderland, while there are entertaining solo performances at Le Point-Virgule and baffling magic shows at Au Double Fond.
Street theatre is to be found all over Paris, especially in spring during the festival Le Printemps des Rues, and in the 12th arrondissement at the Festival Coulée Douce in June.
Paris has a thriving dance scene and, although prices are steep, a night out at Opéra Garnier, to see a classical ballet or opera is something that none of the family will ever forget. For a change of culture, the Institut du Monde Arabe has North African dance shows and Arab music.
Family Guide
One of the innovative acts in the Festival Coulée Douce
Abricadabra Péniche Antipod www.penicheantipode.fr
Au Double Fond www.doublefond.com
Café d’Edgar www.edgar.fr
Festival Coulée Douce http://progeniture.free.fr
Institut du Monde Arabe www.imarabe.org
L’Opéra Garnier www.operadeparis.fr
Le Point-Virgule www.lepointvirgule.com
Le Printemps des Rues www.leprintempsdesrues.com
Théâtre Dunois www.theatredunois.org
Théâtre de l’Essaïon www.essaion-theatre.com
Théâtre du Gymnase www.theatredugymnase.com

Cinema

France has a strong cinematic tradition, but there are plenty of international blockbusters on show as well. Many foreign-language films, especially those for children, are dubbed into French and marked VF (Version Française). Films in their original language are VO (Version Originale). New releases hit the screens on Wednesdays.
Look out for children’s showings at Cinémathèque Français in Bercy Village and the Ecran des Enfants at the Centre Pompidou. The Forum des Images has special showings for under-10s and runs film festivals for kids, including the autumn series Mon Premier Festival.
Kids love watching movies at the 3D cinema La Géode in Parc de la Villette, which also hosts an open-air summer film fest. Le Saint Lambert specializes in children’s films and comic strips in French, but most films for kids will not have English subtitles. You can take a tour behind the scenes as well as catch a movie at the famous Le Grand Rex, Paris’s oldest cinema.
Cinémathèque Français www.cinematheque.fr
Ecran des Enfants www.centrepompidou.fr
Forum des Images www.forumdesimages.fr
Mon Premier Festival www.monpremierfestival.org
Le Saint Lambert 0892689699

Circuses

Paris has some excellent traditional circuses, including two permanent ones, the historic Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione, and Cirque Diana Moreno Bormann, both in northeast Paris. In winter, Cirque Pinder, France’s oldest travelling circus, sets up in Bois de Vincennes. Kids can spend a day learning to juggle and walk the tightrope at Le Cirque de Paris and Le Zèbre de Belleville, also in northeast Paris.
Family Guide
Ornate decoration on the façade of Cirque d’Hiver
Cirque Diana Moreno Bormann www.cirque-diana-moreno.com
Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione www.cirquedhiver.com
Cirque de Paris www.cirque-paris.com
Le Zèbre de Belleville www.lezebre.com

Music

Cité de la Musique has workshops and concerts for kids on Sunday mornings, as does the Théâtre du Châtelet. The Opéra National de Paris Bastille runs a winter season of events for kids, and Espace Léopold-Bellan stages concerts on Wednesday afternoons.
There is music for free in the streets, squares and other venues all over Paris on 21 June, for the lively Fête de la Musique, and all summer in the city’s parks.
Cité de la Musique www.cite-musique.fr
Espace Léopold-Bellan www.bellan.fr
Opéra National de Paris Bastille www.operadeparis.fr
Théâtre du Châtelet www.chatelet-theatre.com

Tickets and listings

Last-minute tickets can be bought at a considerable reduction from the Kiosque Théâtre on Place de la Madeleine and opposite Gare Montparnasse. Listings of events are available at the Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris, and there are useful websites, including Lamuse, which specializes in children’s entertainment.
Kiosque Théâtre www.kiosquetheatre.com
Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris www.parisinfo.com