The Espace des mondes polaires Paul-Émile Victor opened to the public in February 2017 in Prémanon, in the Haut-Jura. Imagined by Jean-Christophe Victor and Stéphane Niveau and backed by the community of communes of the Station des Rousses, it combines an ice rink, a polar museum and a polar garden, and it replaced the original polar museum created by Pierre Marc.
The rink is natural ice and is billed as the only indoor rink in the Jura département. The Lons-le-Saunier architects Reichardt & Ferreux designed the 5,300 m² complex as a bioclimatic building aimed at energy autonomy, and the rink's staging recalls the austere light of the poles. From early June to the end of October the ice gives way to a roller-quad track.
The first polar museum in Prémanon dates from 1988, when Pierre Marc created it with the support of Paul-Émile Victor. An association has run the museum since 1998, chaired in turn by Jean-Christophe Victor and Daphné Victor.
Before you head out.
Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.
Admission
Adults pay 7,50 € (6,50 € reduced), children aged 6 to 17 pay 5,50 € (4,50 € reduced) and toddlers aged 2 to 5 pay 4,50 € (3,50 € reduced). The same price list covers the ice rink in winter and the roller-quad track in summer.
There is a free car park above the chemin des Maquisards, linked to the entrance forecourt by a 100 m footpath along the polar garden, with two reserved disabled spaces in front of the building.
Lockers are available for personal belongings. They lock with a key after inserting a 2.00 € coin, which you get back after use (shopping-trolley tokens do not work).