Espace des Sciences (Rennes Science Centre), Rennes

Rennes Science Centre, part of the Les Champs Libres complex is the city’s flagship science centre. Since relocating in 2006, it has become one of the most visited science centres in France, drawing over 200,000 visitors annually with its hands‑on approach to science.

The venue is organized into four key zones: the Earth Hall, a permanent exhibition on biodiversity, the Eureka Hall for rotating themes, the Merlin’s Laboratory for interactive science experiments, and a digital planetarium. The Earth Hall explores global and local ecosystems through dynamic displays designed to engage audiences of all ages. Temporary exhibits in the Eureka Hall change typically twice a year and have covered topics like dinosaurs, fire, sound, and living clocks.

Merlin’s Laboratory invites visitors to experiment with scientific principles through over 30 interactive modules. You can build tornadoes, experiment with optics, or explore mechanics in this playful space designed to make abstract ideas concrete and memorable. Interactive demonstrations and mediator-led sessions offer an added layer of discovery.

At the heart of the experience lies the planetarium, seating 95 visitors under a magnificent 14-meter hemispherical dome. Offering up to five daily sessions, the shows-often narrated live-take you from the constellations and myths overhead to Hubble’s galaxies and beyond. The projection system was modernized in recent years to deliver sharper visuals and occasional 3D programs.