Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Grand Palais, often called Grand Palais des Beaux-Arts, is a Parisian monument located on the edge of the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement. Built in 1897 for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, it replaces the Palace of Industry of 1855. His initial vocation was to welcome the major official artistic events of the capital, as his pediment indicates: "Monument dedicated by the Republic to the glory of French art". The competition for its design, reserved for French architects, saw four inseparable winners: Henri Deglane, Albert Louvet, Albert-Félix-Théophile Thomas and Charles Girault, responsible for synthesizing their proposals.

The architecture of the Grand Palais reflects the eclectic style of Fine Arts and the technicality of the Belle Époque. Its main nave, 240 metres long, is surmounted by a steel and glass glass window weighing 8,500 tons. The facades, inspired by those of the Louvre, mask this metallic innovation. The monument has had various uses: artistic fairs, technical exhibitions, military hospital during the world wars, and even barracks for colonial troops in 1914. In 1937, the Palais de la Découverte settled permanently in the west wing, marking a turning point in its history.

Ranked a historic monument in 1975, the Grand Palais underwent major restorations from 2001 due to structural disorders linked to the collapse of foundations and the corrosion of its metal frame. This work, completed in 2007, has preserved its integrity, including its glass roof, the largest in Europe with 17,500 m2. In 2020, a new renovation was launched to modernise its spaces before the Olympic Games in 2024, with a budget of €400 million. The monument remains a major cultural symbol, welcoming exhibitions, events and sporting competitions.

The National Galleries, created in 1964 by Reynold Arnould at the request of André Malraux, occupy a part of the north wing. They welcomed major retrospectives, such as Pablo Picasso's in 1966. The Grand Palais was also the venue for historical events, such as the summit of the Union for the Mediterranean in 2008 or exceptional concerts, including those of Prince in 2009. Its versatile role, between art, science and public events, makes it a unique place in the Parisian landscape.

The architecture of the Grand Palais is marked by symbolic elements, such as the copper quadriges of Georges Récipon, representing L-Immortality ahead of Time and L-Harmonia triumphant of Discord. The outer mosaics, made by Auguste-Maximilien Guilbert-Martin, celebrate art through civilizations, while the inner friezes in ceramic sandstone adorn the floors. The restoration of 2001-2007 helped to recover the original colour of the frame, a green "Plight Reseda", identified by archives of the company Ripolin.

Today, the Grand Palace continues to evolve, with projects to increase its capacity (11,000 people in the nave) and to further integrate the Discovery Palace. Its reopening in 2024, after four years of work, coincides with the Olympic Games, where it will host the fencing and taekwondo events. This monument, both a witness to history and a place of innovation, embodies the cultural and architectural dynamism of Paris.

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