Founded in 1937 for the International Exposition of Arts and Technology, the Palais de la Découverte has occupied the west wing of the Grand Palais for nearly 90 years. It was famous for its unique approach — science communicated through live demonstrations by science mediators rather than static displays — and for its planetarium, one of Paris’s most beloved institutions. The museum covered physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, and earth sciences across eight departments.
Science Museum · 8th Arrondissement · Reopening 2027
Palais de la Découverte & the Paris Museum Pass
Paris’s beloved science museum in the west wing of the Grand Palais — with a legendary planetarium and live science demonstrations. Currently undergoing renovation, with full reopening planned for 2027.
🚧 Currently Closed for Renovation
The Palais de la Découverte has been undergoing a major renovation since 2021 as part of the broader Grand Palais restoration project. The permanent collections and planetarium have been closed since then. A partial reopening with temporary exhibitions occurred in summer 2025, but the permanent galleries closed again in October 2025 for final fitting-out works. Full reopening of all permanent collections and the planetarium is now expected in early 2027.
Expected reopening: Early 2027 (planned)
Planning a visit? The historic Palais de la Découverte science museum (and its planetarium) is closed for a multi-year renovation, expected to reopen around 2027. In the meantime a temporary children’s exhibition — Le Palais des enfants (ages 2+, running to 29 August 2027) — is open at the Grand Palais, but it is separately ticketed and not covered by the Paris Museum Pass. There is currently no Palais de la Découverte site you can enter with the pass. See the pass-covered museums below for alternatives.
About the Museum
Practical Information
Address
Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, 75008 Paris (8th arrondissement, between the Champs-Élysées and the Seine)
Getting There
Metro 1 or 13 (Champs-Élysées — Clemenceau) — 3 min walk. RER C (Invalides) — 10 min walk.
When It Reopens
Early 2027 (planned). Check the museum’s official website for confirmed dates before planning a visit.
Museum Pass
Not currently on the Paris Museum Pass — the museum was removed from the official pass list during its renovation. It was covered before closure (individual ticket ~€12); check its status when the renovated museum reopens.
What To Do In The Meantime
During the renovation, the Palais de la Découverte is operating two temporary spaces: Les Étincelles du Palais de la Découverte in the 15th arrondissement (science demonstrations and workshops for ages 6+, ticketed separately) and the Palais des Enfants at the Grand Palais (a children’s exhibition, ages 2+, running 20 June 2025 to 29 August 2027). Neither is covered by the Paris Museum Pass. For a full science museum experience, the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Parc de la Villette (19th arrondissement) is open, fully pass-covered, and includes its own planetarium.
Open Museums Nearby
Frequently Asked Questions
Full reopening of the permanent collections and the planetarium is currently expected in early 2027. The renovation has been delayed multiple times — originally planned for 2025, then end-2026, and now early 2027. Check palais-decouverte.fr for the most current confirmed date before planning a visit.
Yes, partially. The Palais des Enfants (for ages 2–10) is operating at Level -1 of the Grand Palais building. Les Étincelles du Palais de la Découverte (a pop-up science space for ages 6+) is operating in the 15th arrondissement. Neither is covered by the Paris Museum Pass. The Grand Palais itself has fully reopened for exhibitions.
The Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in the 19th arrondissement is Europe’s largest science museum and fully covered by the Paris Museum Pass. It has its own planetarium (collect a free timed voucher on arrival), the Argonaute submarine, and 30,000 square metres of interactive permanent exhibitions. Take Metro Line 7 to Porte de la Villette.
See 50+ Open Museums with One Pass
While this museum is under renovation, dozens of world-class Paris museums are open and covered by the pass.
See Pass Options →