Watch your kids have fun learning, predict the weather and train physically for a mission into space in this hands-on museum.
The Cité de l’Espace is a theme park and interactive exhibition with a focus on the conquest of space. It contains full-scale models of rockets and a planetarium with several fascinating exhibits that explain humanity’s relationship with space. Gaze up beyond the sky and learn about the cosmos through the intriguing displays of this enlightening complex.
Make your way through the exhibits for a glimpse into Toulouse’s aeronautical history. The city is the headquarters of the Aerospace Valley, containing aviation schools and research facilities. Try some of the physical exercises to test your potential to be an astronaut. These include rides such as the moon-running simulator and the rotating pod.
Look up at the stars from the observatory and learn about the constellations and planets. Watch an immersive film in the cinema to feel like you are part of an important mission beyond the limits of our planet. Attend the IMAX cinema screening of a 3-D journey into space.
Among the highlights of the museum are the full-scale replicas of rockets and other spacecraft, including the Mars Rover. Enter the control room near the model of the Ariane 5 rocket and imagine you are preparing it for takeoff. See views of Earth from space and learn to predict the weather.
There is a fee to get into the museum. Admission is discounted for kids. The site opens daily February through December from morning until early evening. It closes on Mondays in winter.
The Cité de l’Espace is on the western flank of the Toulouse Lasbordes Aerodrome in the southeastern outskirts of the city. It is between the districts of Château de l’Hers and Lasbordes. Take a bus to a nearby stop or ride the train to the Gare de Montaudran. Other sights in the area include Grande Plaine Park, the Royal Garden and the Jardin des Plantes.
