Visit Chicago

The famous clock at the corner of the Marshall Building indicates that you are passing the legendary Macy's department store. Classified as a historical landmark, this building, constructed at the end of the 19th century, undeniably contributes to Chicago's culture. Read more

You're not dreaming, it really is a 15-metre-high Picasso, standing right in front of you in the heart of downtown, on Daley Plaza. This open-air work of art, accessible to all, will be the first of many. Read more

The imposing neoclassical building you've just walked past and left behind is Chicago's City Hall. This is where you'll find the office of the mayor, clerk and treasurer, as well as several municipal services and the chambers of the Chicago City Council. Read more

You are now inside the incredible Thompson Center. It's a civic building that houses government offices as well as the Atrium shopping center. Far be it from us to force you to go shopping, but once inside, you’ll quickly understand why we chose to have you walk through it! Read more

On your left, you’ll find the Cadillac Palace Theater. Built in 1926, it opened as the New Palace Theatre. The interior is grandiose, inspired by the Château de Fontainebleau and the Château de Versailles. Read more

Across the river, you'll find the Civic Opera House, home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago. One of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, it boasts the second largest auditorium in North America. Read more

You know well that a city full of skyscrapers, each taller than the other, inevitably offers numerous spectacular viewpoints. In Chicago, there is the Willis Tower, which you may have known by its former name, the Sears Tower. Read more

You have before you one of the architectural icons of the city: The Rookery Building. Its name means "crow's nest". This alludes to the birds that perched there, but also and especially to the politicians who worked inside. Read more

Here is a new street art piece, typical of Chicago. It's Calder’s Flamingo, by Calder. He is an American sculptor and painter who’s realm is abstract art, expressionism, modern art, and surrealism. Read more

You have in front of you one of the elevated train bridges of Chicago's "L" system. You might even see one of those trains passing by, they’re a bit old school but integral to the city's charm. Read more

There it is:  the famous "Begin route 66" marking its start. Because it's right here, on the corner of East Adams Street in Chicago, that it all begins. The End sign, on the other hand, can be found 3940 km away, on the Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles. Read more

You now arrive in front of the famous Crown Fountain in Millennium Park.Created by the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa it was inaugurated in July 2004. Read more

Spoiler alert: you're about to see a fabulous place! You're standing in front of the Chicago Cultural Center, the first completely free cultural center in the United States. Read more

Here, you are in front of the famous magic bean of Chicago. Officially named the Cloud Gate, it is known as The Bean by insiders;Or the fabulous story of an artwork that became the symbol of a whole city in no time. Read more

A couple of steps away from the famous Bean stands another of Millennium park's major works: the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. It's a huge bandstand designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry, who is best known for equally strange and memorable structures such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the  Louis Vuitton  in Paris. Read more

You now find yourself on the BP Pedestrian Bridge. If it is indeed a simple pedestrian bridge, the name BP does serve a double purpose here, as the British Petroleum company BP, donated 5 million dollars for its construction. Read more

Have you noticed? Chicago is really green. Public parks are vast and well-maintained. Here, you are in the Maggie Daley Park, created in 2012 from the conversion of the northern part of Grant Park, previously  a parking lot. Read more

Just so you can find your bearings in this enormous town, know that you are about 500 meters away from the shores of Lake Michigan. If you continue on your right, you will come across the Lake’s front Trail, a renowned hiking trail that stretches along Lake Michigan for 29 kilometers, or 18 miles. Read more

Allow me to take advantage of the fact we're passing a major fire station to explain the reason why Chicago seems so brand new.  The remarkable and renowned architecture that Chicago can now boast about is actually owed to its most tragic event, the infamous Great Chicago Fire. Read more

Look up, and you'll see a small bronze statue of a woman emerging from the waters of Lake Michigan, surrounded by flames, animals, and wheat.She represents the rebirth of the city after the Great Fire and how it subsequently became a pioneering city in several fields. Read more

Right at the entrance of the bridge, you will see a statue of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. His name may not ring a bell to you, but come closer and get to know the founder of Chicago! This sculpture , installed in 2009, is a gift from members of the Haitian-American community of Chicago. Read more

Let’s face it this bridge is a superb vantage point from which you can enjoy an iconic view over Chicago. This view is framed by the group of 4 buildings erected in the 1920s surrounding the bridge: 333 North Michigan, the London Guarantee, the Wrigley and the Tribune Tower. Read more