Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Cité de l'Espace is a scientific cultural centre focused on space and astronautics, inaugurated in June 1997 in Toulouse. The project was carried out by the Toulouse City Council and partners such as the CNES, the Conseil régional de Midi-Pyrénées (now Occitanie) and the ministries. The park was installed on the site of an unfinished site, reusing an existing structure surmounted by a sculpture by Henri-Georges Adam, The White Chapel. Its opening marked a key step in scientific extension in France, with immersive exhibitions and replicas of spacecraft such as Ariane 5 or the Mir station.

The park offers an educational and playful experience, with thematic spaces such as Le Quai du Système Solaire (interactive travel), Vaisseau Terre (role des satellites), or LuneXplorer (simulation of lunar missions). It also houses unique facilities: a 280-seat planetarium, an IMAX room, and exhibitions of moonstones or Martian meteorites. In July 2023, the City of Space crossed the course of 8 million visitors, confirming its European status as a reference in space mediation.

The park's history is marked by major developments: the inauguration of the replica of the Mir station in 1998, the opening of the Terr@dome in 2000, or the creation of a children's space in 2006. In 2017, the planetarium was renovated, and in 2022 a Martian land was added. The site also hosted major events, such as the visit of astronaut Thomas Pesquet in 2017 and 2022, or international conferences. Its initial funding (€23 million) was mainly provided by the City of Toulouse (60%), supplemented by public and private partners.

The direction of the Cité de l ́espace was provided by several figures, including Jean-Baptiste Desbois (2011–2024) and Arnaud Mounier (since 2024). The park extends over 4 hectares, with 4,000 m2 of exhibitions, two planetariums, and an IMAX room. Labeled Tourism and Handicap since 2003, it combines accessibility and innovation, as evidenced by the MooneXplorer (2023), unique in Europe. In 2025, the installation of JWST telescope mirrors in its gardens was planned, strengthening its anchoring in space news.

External links