Originally built for the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition, the Grand Palais has been restored to grandeur without compromising architectural integrity
The Grand Palais in Paris is now up and running again after an exhaustive four-year renovation. Originally built for the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition, a tired monument that long stood as a symbol of French cultural excellence and architectural ambition has been restored to grandeur by the Paris-based Chatillon Architectes.
For founding architect Francois Chatillon, it was about unfolding what was already there, uncovering the building’s rhythm and reconnecting it to the public experience. Without compromising architectural integrity, the entire 77,000-sqm complex now offers spatial clarity, with improved circulation, expanded public access and modern infrastructure that support today’s cultural demands.
The Nave, for instance, a soaring glass-roofed atrium that was revealed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, had its sightline to the Palais de la Découverte restored; a view that hasn’t been visible since 1937. A central social plaza that hosts lobby areas, a shop and cafes, features Le Réséda Café by Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx and the Joseph Dirand-designed Grand Café that’s part brasserie and part cocktail bar. Statues, balconies and other ornamental features have been reinstated, as well as all 150 of the Grand Palais’ vast windows.
Beyond that, visitors are welcome to stop by the various galleries and programmes. Keep your eyes peeled for Art Brut, a captivating exhibition dedicated to a world of atypical, spontaneous works that fall outside traditional artistic conventions, and get your tickets to the upcoming Level Up, where 11 dancers from around the world will come together to move to the rhythm of Awir Leon’s music. And whatever you do, don’t leave without a stroll through the surrounding gardens adjacent to the nearby Jardins des Champs-Élysées. There’s a marvellous collection of 60,000 plants from 250 species, fed by a rainwater irrigation system built into the roof.
Featured photo by Charly Broyez for Chatillon Architectes
