Petit Palais, Grand Palais
Ce point d’intérêt est disponible en audio dans le circuit: Visit Paris, On the Champs Elysées
When you think about it, we owe a lot to the World’s Fairs for their contribution to the city’s cultural heritage. You see, although buildings constructed for such exhibitions were meant to be short-lived, some, like these ones, were built to last. The Petit and Grand Palais, along with the Alexandre III Bridge, were all built for the 1900 Paris Exposition. They were all about the wow factor. Even so, we’re entering the twentieth century, so modernity is the way to go! With this in mind, they decided to build an avenue to cross the Seine, connecting the Champs-Élysées to the Hôtel des Invalides. This ambitious project took three years and the efforts of 1,500 workers to complete! The Grand Palais, on your left, is nothing short of spectacular. It spans an impressive 70,000 square meters, and its architecture seamlessly blends classic and modern elements! It houses Europe’s largest nave, topped by a magnificent 17,500 m² glass roof. Inside, you’ll find three different spaces: the nave, which is big enough to host major events, the Palais de la Découverte, a science museum and planetarium, and the National Galleries, which host world-class temporary exhibitions. Just across the street, you’ll find the Petit Palais, Paris’s Fine Arts Museum since 1902. It is considered one of the finest examples of French eclectic architecture. We’ve got a little bit of everything, and somehow it looks great! Architect Charles Girault mixed styles and materials to perfection, skillfully combining reinforced concrete and glass. See for yourself! You can visit the permanent collections and gardens free of charge! In 2000, both the Grand and Petit Palais were listed as historical monuments.
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