Paris main visit page2

History and scandals

Cité and musée de la Musique, a must!!!

Cite des Sciences et d'Industrie

Parc de la Villette

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Mouzaia quarter-Picturesque village in heart Paris

Paris-19th arr -La Vilette-History and scandals 

Let’s concentrate on an arrondissement that is often neglected by the tourist: the 19th arrondissement and its two major sites, the PARC DE LA VILETTE and the green jewel of Paris, les BUTTES CHAUMONT.
Lying in the extreme northeast part of Paris, the 19th has the completely different faces. Around La Vilette a whole new avant-garde area was built with the largest and most modern museum for Sciences and Techniques of the word and a Cite de la Musique, entirely dedicated to Music with a music school, a concert hall with the most modern gadgets and a wonderful, not to miss MUSIC MUSEUM. Also a Grande Halle (porte de Pantin), and the "Zenith”: vast modern ensemble, realized from 1984 to 1997 and, let's be honest, it is a success!
The Villette area thanks its existence to a Roman road between Paris and Flanders. In 1806 remains from the Gallo-Roman era were excavated when the canal de l’Ourcq was created. Begin 19th century a lot of industries were attracted by the knot canal de l’Ourcq, Saint-Denis and Saint-Martin. In 1860 the village Villette was incorporated into the city of Paris. The municipality decided to create here in 1867 a cattle mart and a slaughterhouses centre. During a century the whole quarter lived at the rhythm this industry.
In the 1960's a decision was made to modernize the equipments and new slaughterhouses were built. But the meat arrives now by refrigerated truck and not on foot! In the wake of this economic and financial fiasco the slaughterhouses have to close in 1974, almost unused.  It was a huge financial scandal!! Président Giscard d'Estaing decides in en 1979 to build the Cité des Sciences instead .The city launches an architectural contest in 1983 and Bernard Tschumi is appointed urbanist . The Cité des sciences et de l'industrie (completed by the Géode and Cinaxe), the parc de la Villette, the Zénith, the Cité de la musique will be planned.  It will be inaugurated in 1986 by François Mitterand. 

Bibliography

--Vie et histoire des arrondissements de Paris, ed.Hervas (1985-1988--Nouvelle Histoire de Paris, ed.Hachette--Le Pieton de Paris, by L.P.Fargue, ed.Gallimard 1997--Dictionnaire historique des rues de Paris, by J.Hillairet, ed.Minuit --Guide du Routard 1998-1999 (Ed.Hachette)--Paris, 2000 d'histoire, by J.Favier, ed.Fayard 1997 --Paris 19eme siecle, l'immeuble et la rue, by F.Loyer, ed.Hazan, 1994- Nouvelle architecture, l’ère Mitterand , by J.Daniel (Grasset, 1997)-Cite de la Musique, (folder reception)