Located in the Beaubourg neighborhood, between the Les Halles and Marais districts, the Centre Georges Pompidou houses the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe. It specializes in particular in 20th-century art. The center is also famous for its groundbreaking structure, with its colorful mechanical and utility systems placed outside the building itself to free up interior space. The upper floors offer a superb view over Paris. You can reach them via the exterior escalators, which zigzag across the entire façade. A small square beside the museum is home to the Stravinsky Fountain. You can also admire the Centre Pompidou's unusual structures by settling onto the large gentle slope facing the museum.
Highlights
The Musée Beaubourg's modern art collection
The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris houses the largest museum of modern and contemporary art in Europe. Today, the Pompidou Museum's collection contains more than 100,000 works spanning visual art, design, architecture, photography, and multimedia.
The view from the Centre Pompidou's restaurant
From the top floor of the building housing the Centre Georges Pompidou, visitors to the restaurant enjoy an exceptional, free view over the city of Paris.
The Marais
The Marais is the neighborhood located east of the Pompidou museum. It stretches from Notre-Dame Cathedral to Place des Vosges. Its name comes from the site's natural history: it was originally covered in marshland. Residents lived on the hillocks to avoid flooding from the Seine. The medieval village located here was in fact called Beaubourg, which gave the Centre Pompidou its nickname. After visiting the Pompidou museum, a stroll through the heart of the Marais is a must.
Infos pratiques
Tips
The permanent collections are on the 4th and 5th floors, while a large space on the 6th floor is dedicated to temporary exhibitions. If you're not a big fan of modern art, treat yourself to a short walk on the building's rooftop anyway (the "Vue de Paris" ticket costs €3). Afterward, you can start exploring the Marais neighborhood.
How to get there
Metro Rambuteau (line 11), Hôtel de Ville (lines 1 & 11), Châtelet–Les Halles (lines 1, 4, 7, 11, and 14) RER Châtelet–Les Halles (lines A, B, D) Bus 29, 38, 47, 75
Opening hours
Nearby
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