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Le 104

Last weekend we went to The 104 and had such a fun day. I thought I would share some pictures in case anyone wants to visit. The 104 is a public art center and it is really a special place. I would describe it as a MOMA meets a small carnival. It is located in the northern part of Paris and when you first walk in you see a large carousel. It is the most beautiful carousel I’ve ever seen. It is made up of giant metal bugs. I know it sounds funny but it is really unbelievably cool. Whoever is riding can control how the animal moves different parts of its body. The pictures don’t do it justice. Not only was it beautifully designed but we rode on it and it was really fun.





The next building had art installations that change all the time. But they were different than anything I’d seen because they were installations that you experience, for example they had a conveyor belt where everyone takes off their shoes and lays down on and gets carried across the room. Or some of the other exhibits they had were one where you sit down on a chair in a big plastic room and for 30 seconds air blows a bunch of balls around and you just sit there and have that experience until its the next person’s turn. Another was a giant maze made out of cardboard.

The whole space was beautifully designed (see the chain link fence that looks like lace.) And I liked it because they had things that appealed to every age. There were lots of kid friendly activities but there were also things just for adults like regular art installations and a nice wine bar. Besides all that there is a really great thrift store in the back (which is how I found it after some readers suggested it.) Why don’t more thrift stores have a giant kid friendly art center attached to them? Brilliant!






This is a great place to visit if you are in Paris with kids or if it is bad weather. We loved it and will definitely be back soon.

  1. Courtney Price ~ Vintage Ginger Peaches

    March 2, 2011

    Amazingly cool. I've never really wanted to go to Paris until now!

  2. zookeeper

    March 2, 2011

    No wonder the French don't like Americans. Something like that would be considered a waste of space/money here and would never be built!

  3. Chris

    March 2, 2011

    That is absolutely brilliant. Ahhh France. So fun to have these wonderful posts from you and your sister every day to look forward too.

    Cheers!

    btw: your hair looks beautiful all long and lovely

  4. {jane}

    March 2, 2011

    ok. that's it. our family is moving to France, too. i can't take it anymore – this museum is far to unbelievable & i want more time to be there than a "vacation" would allow.

    simply incredible!

  5. Griffin and Gretchen

    March 2, 2011

    So cool! Only in Europe. I wish there were fun things like that here in the Americas

  6. Carrie Rosalind

    March 2, 2011

    WOW! That looks insanely cool. Would love to visit someday!

  7. katy

    March 2, 2011

    Thanks for telling us about this! It is on my list for my next trip.

  8. Katie

    March 2, 2011

    wow! That chain link is AMAZING…I wonder how hard that is do to…

    I have a horrible chain link fence on the side of my house that I HATE

  9. andy

    March 2, 2011

    So cool! I want to come right now.

  10. Tara

    March 2, 2011

    Looks like so much fun!

  11. Mocha Mornings

    March 2, 2011

    I'm pretty sure you have the coolest life ever. I am tempted to book a flight to Paris just to ride the bug carousel.

  12. Satoko

    March 2, 2011

    what an amazing amazing place!!! That carousel?! incredible…

  13. Fellow Creatives

    March 2, 2011

    That looks like an absolutely amazing experience. I can't wait to get back to Paris!

  14. Jaclyn

    March 2, 2011

    This looks incredible. I have never seen anything so large like this. The curled maze looks like so much fun.

  15. Jennyphoria

    March 2, 2011

    Great photos! I hadn't heard of this and it looks wonderful. I'll have to check it out.

  16. kelsey c.

    March 2, 2011

    that place looks amazing. puts our lil Bay Area Discovery Museum to shame!

  17. kelsey c.

    March 2, 2011

    that place looks amazing. puts our lil Bay Area Discovery Museum to shame!

  18. Mom in Mendon

    March 2, 2011

    Wow! So clever.

  19. Tanya

    March 2, 2011

    so super cool! I'm definitely adding this to my list for my next paris trip.

  20. Samantha

    March 2, 2011

    Jordan I just love your blog, and I am so so excited to read through your family's life and journey in Paris.
    It is my life long dream to travel to Europe, and if I ever get to go, I will make sure to document all of your wonderful advice.
    Thank you for sharing with your readers!
    Much love,
    Samantha

  21. Jordan - Polkadot Prints

    March 2, 2011

    So rad. I love interactive places like that. Learn stuff but in a fun way! That maze looks like giant wood shavings…very cool!

  22. janis

    March 2, 2011

    this looks like such a neat place! thanks for sharing.

  23. Meg

    March 2, 2011

    Oh. OH! I want to go there now. RIGHT NOW.

  24. rachel @ blackeiffel

    March 3, 2011

    Seriously incredible! Can I meet you there? Gasp, that is surreal.

  25. cheap party supplies

    March 3, 2011

    Really amazing party ….I enjoyed this post,Really cool images.i also like to organize my birthday party in this way with the help of party supplies.

  26. Laetitia

    March 3, 2011

    This is my neighborhood !! I live by the canal, 5min from the 104 !! So happy that you have so much fun in my city :))

  27. That Girl 99...

    March 3, 2011

    This place looks fantastic. There is something somewhat similar but on a much, much smaller scale (except for the elephant) in Nantes, France. I beleive it is called Les Machines de L'ile – Nantes. There is a huge mechanical elephant you can ride and other small mechanical things like a big squid. It's sort of an ode to Jules Verne 🙂

  28. Julie

    March 3, 2011

    This all looks so fun! That carousel looks like a Tim Burton creation-how cool!

  29. Matty B.

    March 12, 2011

    The blog is gorgeous and my wife just recommended it, which I'm super-excited about! Can you explain the activity where people were laying on their backs on what looks like a conveyor belt?

  30. Brigette

    March 24, 2011

    thank you for sharing! I'm coming to Paris next month! I'll be sure to go.

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