The renovation of the Grand Palais in Paris, a 120-year-old historic monument of the city of Paris, is currently underway . Since Friday, March 12, 2021, work has been taking place in the three buildings that make up the emblematic listed building, built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition.
Up until now, this symbolic site has pulsated to the rhythm of a vast program of art exhibitions and iconic events, including the Saut Hermès for equestrian sports enthusiasts, Jours de Fête and its funfair under the glass roof, the Grand Palais des Glaces, the world's largest indoor ice rink, and Tasteof Paris, the culinary festival featuring the world's greatest chefs. So it comes as no surprise that the reopening of the monument and the return of its programming are eagerly awaited in Paris.
Parisians for a day and all their lives first had the opportunity to return to the Grand Palais during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It became an iconic theater for the fencing and taekwondo events, as well as for their handisport versions. The venue is being reopened gradually, starting with the nave and surrounding galleries. The FAB Paris show has already been announced for November 2024.
By spring 2025, the work should be completed, after which the public is promised a new experience, including a common entrance for the Grand Palais and the Palais de la Découverte, with the latter benefiting from a "new" museography. According to the official website, visitors will "finally be able to move freely around the Grand Palais and the vast living spaces revealed by the work". It also states that the Grand Palais, in its new version, is intended to be more popular and participative: "It will invite visitors to take an active part in its programming, and to make its spaces their own, whatever their background".
Plans to restore the Grand Palais are nothing new, and the work that began in 2021 was decided on just over ten years ago. At that time, the renovations had become necessary in view of the extensive and profound damage to the interior and exterior of the building. Since 2016, the roof restoration project has been working to breathe new life into the damaged 20,000m2 of the monument's 35,000m2 surface area.
In concrete terms, the work will focus on certain priorities. Removal of walls and partitions, accessibility, fire safety, but also air-conditioning and new pathways: inside the building, there's a lot to do. The works will also increase the surface area of the Grand Palais exhibition gallery by 30%, from 3,000 to 3,900 m2. The total cost of renovating the Grand Palais will be 466 million euros, shared between sponsorship, subsidies - via the Grand Plan d'investissement - and a government loan.
Location
Grand Palais
3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower
75008 Paris 8
Access
M° Champs-Elysées Clemenceau
