Be a Politician for a Day at This New Attraction in Strasbourg

If you think politics is boring, prepare to be surprised. The parlamentarium invites you to feel the vibrant spirit of a common Europe. The complexities of the EU Parliament are not easy for a layperson to understand. Just think of the practicalities of researching, debating and deciding on laws that will affect the destinies of over half a billion people in 28 member states (or should we say 27?). It’s mind-boggling. Cutting the ribbon of the new venue, President Antonio Tajani said that the parlamentarium would help EU citizens find out more about European politics, institutions and programmes, thus making them more well-informed citizens who are able to make better choices. ‘Visitors will understand why Strasbourg had been chosen to be the democratic headquarter par excellence of the European Union,’ said Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg, at the inauguration. ‘The situation that our city inherited by history is not replaceable. Honouring the symbol of the past is indispensable to draw a good perspective for the future.’

In the central area, media stations invite visitors to make direct contact with parliamentarians, find out more about the composition and role of the European Parliament and learn about how the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union work and interact with each other. In the media desk ‘United in Diversity’, an interactive map of Europe lets you explore 90 success stories of shared principles of European politics, institutions and programmes.

Then comes the 360° cinema, where you can take a seat right at the centre of the hemicycle, giving you a vivid virtual experience of what the legislation process is like. Make sure to allow two hours for this fascinating role-playing game. Up to 32 people can participate, stepping into the role of a member of the EU Parliament, joining together to form parties, obtaining information, debating issues and having to defend their decisions. Before you leave, you can have your picture taken at the official photo booth; you never know when you’ll need a headshot for your own election campaign.

The parlamentarium Simone Veil – named after the late women’s rights champion and former President of the EU Parliament – is located in the heart of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and is easily accessible by tram. The facilities were designed by Atelier Brückner, with Mediafarm collaborating on the role-play multimedia concept. The precursor of the parlamentarium in Brussels opened six years ago and has welcomed a whopping 1.7 million visitors to date, and a second one in Berlin was just as successful. The parlamentarium Simone Veil in Strasbourg welcomes you from Mondays to Saturdays, from 9 am to 6 pm. There’s more information on their website.