The history of the park is quite short, as La Villette is one of the youngest parks in Paris. It was designed by the French-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi in 1982. The concept of the park follows the urban design trends of the 20th Century, which is clearly visible in the landscape formation and architectural decisions. For example, it features many follies, which are impractical but spectacularly designed buildings, such as the red construction adjacent to the cinema.

During a visit to Parc de la Villette, you can indulge in outdoor leisure activities as well as broaden your knowledge of the world. The park is home to one of the largest science museums in ope, called Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie, meaning the City of Sciences and Industry. The institution was built in 1986 and its building was designed by Irish architect Peter Rice. The complex includes a planetarium, aquarium, media library, auditorium, IMAX cinema, a section designed especially for children, and many other curious and useful installations. It's estimated that over 5 million people visit this museum every year.

All music lovers absolutely have to visit Cite de la Musique, the City of Music, where they can listen to live music concerts. The complex features a modern concert hall, an amphitheatre, a museum of music and many other facilities. This section of the park centres around the picturesque Canal d’Ourcq. Formerly a small winding stream in the woods around Paris, it was remodelled as a canal at the beginning of the 19th Century. On the canal's bank, visitors can see another of Parc de la Villette's major attractions – the Paris Zenith. The structure is a 6,000-seat concert hall that was erected in 1983 by two eminent architects, Jean-Paul Morel and Philippe Chaix. The park’s premises are also home to the National Superior Conservatory of Music and Dance of Paris, the successor of the Conservatory of Music, founded in 1795.

One of the best-known venues located in the park is La Grande Halle de la Villette. Formerly a cattle market hall, today it houses a popular cinema and concert hall. The construction itself is a very fine example of the 19th-century Baltard school of architecture. Thoroughly renovated in 1985, it features a 1,000 square meters hemispherical screen and nearly 500 reclining seats. Since its creation, the institution has been known to support free and modern ways of expression, organising hip-hop performances and street theatre spectacles. A popular meeting point, it's linked to other attractions of La Villette by a dense network of paths and alleys. The area around La Grande Halle is a favourite spot for street artists, offering marionette theatre, circus and cabaret shows.

As a combination of a public park and a garden, Parc de la Villette boasts a wide collection of various plant species, organised into thematic sectors with such tempting names as the Jardin du Dragon (Garden of the Dragon), Jardin des Mirroirs (Garden of Mirrors), and Jardin des Dunes (Garden of Dunes). If you have a chance, stop and savour the special atmosphere of this, the most unique of all parks in Paris.