Grand Palais

The Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées, commonly known as the Grand Palais, is a grand historic building in Paris, France. It is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris between the famous Champs-Élysées and the Seine River, on Avenue Winston-Churchill.

Construction of the Grand Palais began in 1897. This was done to prepare for the Universal Exposition of 1900. The building was created to host big artistic events and shows. It was built in a style called Beaux-Arts, which means it has beautiful stone facades, large glass roofs, and strong building materials like iron, light steel framing, and reinforced concrete.

Today, the Grand Palais is very important as a place for exhibitions and museums. It is officially listed as a historic monument by the Ministry of Culture.

Construction and early years

The Grand Palais was built for the Universal Exposition of 1900 in Paris. It was designed by four French architects: Henri Deglane, Albert Louvet, Albert Thomas and Charles Girault.

The Grand Palais opened on May 1, 1900. It was used for many kinds of shows, including art, new inventions like cars and airplanes, and household gadgets. The main hall is very long, almost 240 meters, and has a special roof made of iron, steel, and glass. The building looks grand, with big stone walls and beautiful ironwork.

World Wars I and II

During World War I, the Grand Palais was used as a hospital. Local artists helped decorate the rooms and make parts for artificial limbs.

In World War II, the building was used by the Nazis to store trucks and for shows. During the fight to free Paris, resistance fighters used the Grand Palais as a base. On August 23, 1944, German soldiers attacked the building, which started a fire and caused damage. By August 26, French soldiers had taken control of the building.

Postwar years

In the 1960s, the architect Le Corbusier suggested tearing down the Grand Palais for a new art museum. But after he died on 27 August 1965, the plan was stopped.

Later, on 12 June 1975, the main hall of the Grand Palais was named a historical monument. Then, a new rule on 6 November 2000 helped protect the whole building.

21st century

The Grand Palais has a police station in the basement to help keep the art safe. It also has a science museum called the Palais de la Découverte.

The Grand Palais has been used for many special events. It hosted the 2010 World Fencing Championships and was used for a big art show in 2011. In 2017, cyclists from the Tour de France rode through the building.

The Grand Palais closed in March 2021 for big renovations. It reopened in time for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where it held fencing and taekwondo events. After the Olympics, it continued to show art fairs and other exhibitions.

In June 2025, the Grand Palais reopened after four years of work. The building now has a new roof, better galleries, a new entrance, many lifts, and a special area just for children. These changes will help even more visitors enjoy the Grand Palais each year.

Restoration work

In June 1993, part of the building shook loose, so the Minister of Culture closed the Grand Palais for safety. Experts worked to fix the problem, but it took many years to agree on how to save the building.

The building’s foundations and metal parts were hurting because of water and weight. Restoration work happened between 2001 and 2007. Workers fixed the foundations, walls, glass roof, and outside decorations.

Before starting, people wondered what color to paint the metal. They found old records and chose a pale green color called "Réséda" green to match the original look.