Georges Pompidou Centre
This point of interest is available as audio on the tour: Visit Paris, From the Mona Lisa to the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Love it or hate it, the Georges Pompidou Center attracts over 3 million visitors a year and ranks as one of the most visited buildings in Paris! After all, it’s home to Europe’s largest modern art collection! This atypical museum was one of Pompidou’s first projects when he succeeded Charles de Gaulle as President of France in 1969. He wanted to give Paris a cultural melting pot, bringing together modern art, design, literature, the visual arts and contemporary music, all on the wasteland that was left by the demolition of run-down buildings in the Beaubourg neighbourhood. As usual, a major architectural competition was held, and some of the greatest architects of the day came forward with ideas. The winning design came from two young, unknown architects, Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. They’ll pour their hearts and souls into constructing this colorful, one-of-a-kind structure, drawing inspiration from oil platforms and comic strips. What’s so special about their design is that the building is literally turned inside out, with its structural elements fully exposed. You’ll see pipes, ducts, and elevators painted in bright colors: green for water, blue for air, yellow for electricity, and red for circulation and elevators. The huge white air ducts add to the building’s distinctive look. Its outlandish architecture was not to everyone’s liking, of course. Some dubbed it “Our Lady of the Pipes,” “Le Pompidolium,” or “The Culture Liner.” But Georges Pompidou loved it and that’s all that mattered. The building opened its doors in 1977 in the presence of distinguished guests from France and abroad. And let me tell you, it was an instant success and has remained popular ever since. On its 40th anniversary, it welcomed a staggering 85,000 visitors in just two days, far exceeding its original capacity of 5,000 visitors per day.
Powered by GetYourGuide
Discover other tours to visit Paris
Discover Paris with app
An interactive guide through the most beautiful streets, squares, and districts
22 fun audioguides full of historical facts, anecdotes, and legends
Comments