Prepare your trip
The Grand Palais now opens the doors of its entrance hall *. In this vast area covering 300 m2, discover the glass wall embellished by Sur le seuil dans la couleur, a multi-colour work by Daniel Buren and admire the outstanding architecture of the Nave.
You can use the bluetooth terminal installed in the peristyle to download free information on the Grand Palais: the history of the building, landmark events, the programme and life backstage, as well as the personal memories of leading personalities like Karl Lagerfeld and Daniel Buren.
©EPGPCE / Design and production: Synapses Conseil and Audiovisit.
* Opening times : March 25 - 30 2010
You can use the bluetooth terminal installed in the peristyle to download free information on the Grand Palais: the history of the building, landmark events, the programme and life backstage, as well as the personal memories of leading personalities like Karl Lagerfeld and Daniel Buren.
©EPGPCE / Design and production: Synapses Conseil and Audiovisit.
* Opening times : March 25 - 30 2010
The Grand Palais
© Coll. Grand Palais,
François Tomasi
François Tomasi
Zoom
A 3-minute overview
Discover the milestone events in the history of a building that has come to symbolise French heritage: its edification in time for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, and major events from art exhibitions to the Air Show, the Motor Show and all today's exciting projects.
A 3-minute overview
Discover the milestone events in the history of a building that has come to symbolise French heritage: its edification in time for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, and major events from art exhibitions to the Air Show, the Motor Show and all today's exciting projects.
An architectural achievement
© DR
History
A palace of glass, stone and steel
The whole of the Grand Palais is a listed historic monument combining glass, stone and metal in gigantic proportions: a total area of 77,000 m2 (828,000 sq. ft.), including 13,500 m 2 (145,000 sq. ft.) in the Nave, an external perimeter measuring over half a mile, a height of 60 metres (nearly 200 ft.) below the campanile roof and a 24 m2 flag waving on the rooftop!
A palace of glass, stone and steel
The whole of the Grand Palais is a listed historic monument combining glass, stone and metal in gigantic proportions: a total area of 77,000 m2 (828,000 sq. ft.), including 13,500 m 2 (145,000 sq. ft.) in the Nave, an external perimeter measuring over half a mile, a height of 60 metres (nearly 200 ft.) below the campanile roof and a 24 m2 flag waving on the rooftop!
Restoration of the Nave
© Emoc,
Patrick Tourneboeuf
Patrick Tourneboeuf
History
2001/2005: an awesome building site
To save the Grand Palais, refurbishment work on an enormous scale took place in the Nave between 2001 and 2005. Phase 1 consisted in reinforcing the foundations and restoring the Nave, followed by Phase 2, the restoration of the facades. Alain-Charles Perrot, chief architect for France's historic monuments, responsible for the Grand Palais, tells about the extraordinary feat of lifting the whole of the glass roof in one go.
2001/2005: an awesome building site
To save the Grand Palais, refurbishment work on an enormous scale took place in the Nave between 2001 and 2005. Phase 1 consisted in reinforcing the foundations and restoring the Nave, followed by Phase 2, the restoration of the facades. Alain-Charles Perrot, chief architect for France's historic monuments, responsible for the Grand Palais, tells about the extraordinary feat of lifting the whole of the glass roof in one go.
Mignonette green
© Coll. Grand Palais,
François Tomasi
François Tomasi
History
An emblematic colour
The Grand Palais has its own symbolic colour: mignonette green, a shade created specially for the Grand Palais when it was built in 1900. Over the years, with so much going in the Nave, the paintwork deteriorated and the green lost its freshness and impact. Alain-Charles Perrot, chief architect for France's historic monuments, tells how the colour's original specification was rediscovered during the restoration work and how the Nave regained its original livery.
An emblematic colour
The Grand Palais has its own symbolic colour: mignonette green, a shade created specially for the Grand Palais when it was built in 1900. Over the years, with so much going in the Nave, the paintwork deteriorated and the green lost its freshness and impact. Alain-Charles Perrot, chief architect for France's historic monuments, tells how the colour's original specification was rediscovered during the restoration work and how the Nave regained its original livery.
Before D-Day
© Coll. Grand Palais,
Didier Plowy
Didier Plowy
Backstage
How to prepare an event
Any event, before becoming an international exhibition or a prestigious salon, starts life as a blueprint that has to fit within the volumes of the Grand Palais, while complying with stringent technical and safety requirements. The superintendant of the Grand Palais offers a glimpse of the preparatory work that goes on behind the scenes before an event, taking into account the specific characteristics of a listed historic building.
How to prepare an event
Any event, before becoming an international exhibition or a prestigious salon, starts life as a blueprint that has to fit within the volumes of the Grand Palais, while complying with stringent technical and safety requirements. The superintendant of the Grand Palais offers a glimpse of the preparatory work that goes on behind the scenes before an event, taking into account the specific characteristics of a listed historic building.
FIAC
© Coll. Grand Palais,
François Tomasi
François Tomasi
Backstage
Martin Béthenod, Director of the FIAC takes us backstage
The International Contemporary Art Fair, the FIAC, is a major event intimately linked to the history of the Grand Palais. Its director, Martin Béthenod, talks us through this very special bond and tells us more about FIAC, which for 5 days each autumn draws nearly 70,000 visitors to the Nave. This year 110 galleries from 22 countries will be at the show, and the organisational timeframe is as tight as ever with nine days allowed to install the works and two to take them down!
Martin Béthenod, Director of the FIAC takes us backstage
The International Contemporary Art Fair, the FIAC, is a major event intimately linked to the history of the Grand Palais. Its director, Martin Béthenod, talks us through this very special bond and tells us more about FIAC, which for 5 days each autumn draws nearly 70,000 visitors to the Nave. This year 110 galleries from 22 countries will be at the show, and the organisational timeframe is as tight as ever with nine days allowed to install the works and two to take them down!
Daniel Buren
© DR
Testimonies
A stunning setting for artists
Artists describe in their own words the special appeal that the Grand Palais has for them. Guest artist for Monumenta 2012, Daniel Buren talks about the transparency and luminosity of the cupola but also recognises how hard it can be for artists to imagine their work in a magnificent setting that can be overpoweringly gigantic.
A stunning setting for artists
Artists describe in their own words the special appeal that the Grand Palais has for them. Guest artist for Monumenta 2012, Daniel Buren talks about the transparency and luminosity of the cupola but also recognises how hard it can be for artists to imagine their work in a magnificent setting that can be overpoweringly gigantic.
© DR
Testimonies
"The Grand Palais is the new heart of Paris"
Since Karl Lagerfeld, as head designer at the Chanel fashion-house, chose the Nave as a setting to present his collection, he has had a passion for the Grand Palais, "the new heart of Paris". He tells us how its volume, light and modernity make it an ideal catwalk venue for his couture creations.
"The Grand Palais is the new heart of Paris"
Since Karl Lagerfeld, as head designer at the Chanel fashion-house, chose the Nave as a setting to present his collection, he has had a passion for the Grand Palais, "the new heart of Paris". He tells us how its volume, light and modernity make it an ideal catwalk venue for his couture creations.
Raphaël Gaillarde
© Coll. Grand Palais,
Raphael Gaillarde
Raphael Gaillarde
Testimonies
The eye of the photographer
The Grand Palais gave photographer Raphael Gaillarde carte blanche to capture the building from every possible angle. A photographer for 25 years with the Gamma agency, he tells us about the freedom and singularity of his approach - necessarily very subjective - where imagination has an important part to play, and about his used of colour.
The eye of the photographer
The Grand Palais gave photographer Raphael Gaillarde carte blanche to capture the building from every possible angle. A photographer for 25 years with the Gamma agency, he tells us about the freedom and singularity of his approach - necessarily very subjective - where imagination has an important part to play, and about his used of colour.
More space at the Grand Palais
© Coll. Grand Palais,
François Tomasi
François Tomasi
News
New areas being restored
Did you know that the Nave is just one of a number of areas in the Grand Palais that used to host events and exhibitions? These forgotten venues are now being restored and redeveloped.
The EPGPCE which runs the Grand Palais and is overseeing the work, unveils its project and the new facilities that will be opening to the public as from 2010.
New areas being restored
Did you know that the Nave is just one of a number of areas in the Grand Palais that used to host events and exhibitions? These forgotten venues are now being restored and redeveloped.
The EPGPCE which runs the Grand Palais and is overseeing the work, unveils its project and the new facilities that will be opening to the public as from 2010.
Grand Palais Honey
© Coll. Grand Palais,
François Tomasi
François Tomasi
News
Beehives on the roof and "Zut" the mascot
Two beehives have been installed on the roof of the Grand Palais since May 2009.The EPGPCE (Etablissement public du Grand Palais), which runs the building, is thus making its contribution to safeguarding biodiversity and developing a better understanding of how bees live in the city. At the same time it will be producing its own honey, due to go on sale under the "Grand Palais" brand in 2010. Beekeeper Nicolas Géant tells us the story, and graphic artist Yves Castelain explains how he came to create "Zut", the queen bee, now the Grand Palais' mascot.
Beehives on the roof and "Zut" the mascot
Two beehives have been installed on the roof of the Grand Palais since May 2009.The EPGPCE (Etablissement public du Grand Palais), which runs the building, is thus making its contribution to safeguarding biodiversity and developing a better understanding of how bees live in the city. At the same time it will be producing its own honey, due to go on sale under the "Grand Palais" brand in 2010. Beekeeper Nicolas Géant tells us the story, and graphic artist Yves Castelain explains how he came to create "Zut", the queen bee, now the Grand Palais' mascot.
"On the threshold, in colour"
© Coll. Grand Palais,
François Tomasi
François Tomasi
News
An original work by Daniel Buren
"Sur le seuil, en couleur", is a work executed in situ in the Nave's main entrance hall by sculptor Daniel Buren on a glass partition measuring 38 x 8 metres. Designed initially for the Force de l'art exhibition it will be on view at the Grand Palais till the end of 2009. Daniel Buren tells us more about how he conceived this multi-faceted work which, as the sunlight plays on the glass, casts subtly shifting colours on the visitors as they move around the Nave.
An original work by Daniel Buren
"Sur le seuil, en couleur", is a work executed in situ in the Nave's main entrance hall by sculptor Daniel Buren on a glass partition measuring 38 x 8 metres. Designed initially for the Force de l'art exhibition it will be on view at the Grand Palais till the end of 2009. Daniel Buren tells us more about how he conceived this multi-faceted work which, as the sunlight plays on the glass, casts subtly shifting colours on the visitors as they move around the Nave.
Medias
Video (in French)
The new screening room © Grand Palais
The changing of the flag on the roof © Grand Palais
