Folies – Contemporary architecture
The term folies is a charmingly old-fashioned word, which in the 18th century didn’t mean madness, as the name might suggest, but referred to the elegant and often extravagant country houses built by wealthy Parisians in the suburbs of Paris.
Sadly, most of them have disappeared, but you may be familiar with the “Folies” designed by the architect Bernard Tschumi for the Parc de la Villette.
These 26 Folies, scattered throughout the park, are impressive red metal structures that contrast beautifully with the surrounding greenery. While their square bases are all identical (10.80 metres per side), their shapes vary according to their purpose. Each Folie is uniquely identified by a name and a code composed of a combination of letters and numbers.
The 26 Folies Parc de la Villette
Antenne Secours (N7), the Emergency Response Centre is located east of the Grande Halle.
Eclat de Folie (L1) houses the visitor reception area at the park’s north entrance, near the Corentin Cariou metro station.
Folie Information-Billetterie (L9) The Information-Ticket Office houses the ticket office and information point. It is located at the park’s other entrance, on Avenue Jean-Jaurès, near the Porte de Pantin metro station.
Folie Philharmonie 2 (N9) provides access to the Philharmonie de Paris, opposite the Folie Information-Ticket Office.
Folie Argonaute (P4) allows visitors to access the decommissioned submarine Argonaute, located in front of the Sciences and Industry Museum.
Folie Ateliers Villette (L7) is located east of the Grande Halle. It offers a series of cultural and themed workshops.
Folie Ateliers Villette (P5) complements the previous one. It is located on the banks of the Canal de l’Ourcq.
Folie Belvédère (P6) is next to the Buried Bicycle art installation and has a ramp and a spiral staircase.
Folie Billetterie du Zénith (R6) serves as the entrance to the concert hall.
Folie Café Goûtu (P7) is located at the Zenith, on a large lawn that hosts an open-air cinema every summer, and house a terraced café serving fast food.
Folie du Canal (N5) houses a physiotherapy training centre.
Folie Echangeur (R5) The Interchange Folie is connected to a footbridge spanning the Ourcq Canal.
Folie de l’Ecluse (L3) The Lock Folie is located near a lock (écluse). It is connected to the footbridge spanning the Saint-Denis Canal.
Folie Escalier (R4) The Staircase Folie is located next to the equestrian centre and the Geode.
Folie Horloge (N1) The Clock Folie is located near the WIP Villette. It features the face of the monumental clock installed at the entrance to the former slaughterhouses in 1877.
Folie Janvier (N8) The January Folie is located behind the Janvier Pavilion, an elegant neoclassical building, which formerly housed the post office and the police station.
Folie Kiosque à Musique (L4) The Bandstand Folie is located opposite the Science Museum, and hosts open-air concerts during the summer.
Folie L2 houses the restaurant À la Folie Paris. It is located near the Science Museum and the WIP Villette.
Folie Médiation (N6) hosts a series of workshops dedicated to cultural mediation.
Folie Musique (P8) faces the Philharmonie de Paris, by the south entrance to the park.
La Folie Observatoire (N4) The Observatory Folie is opposite the Géode and the Science Museum, and boasts the best views of the park.
La Folie Rond-Point des Canaux (J5) is located at the junction of the Saint-Denis Canal and the Ourcq Canal.
Folie Théâtre (L8) serves as the entrance to the Théâtre Paris-Villette. The theatre was moved to this building, the former Halle aux Cuirs (Leather market), in 1986.
La Folie des Vents and Dunes (L6) The Winds and Dunes Folie houses a safe play area for young children (0 to 2 years old) and older children (up to 13 years old).
Folie des Visites (L5) ) is at the corner of the Galerie de la Villette and the Canal de l’Ourcq. It houses the Ateliers Villette, workshops for children, and a restaurant.
La Folie Trabendo (R7) has a 700-seat concert hall.
Directions: 19th district
Metro: Porte de Pantin on Line 5 and Corentin Cariou on Line 7
Coordinates: Lat 48.893849 – Long 2.390260
