Construction of the hall 1865–1867 (≈ 1866)
Former ox hall designed by Mérindol.
15 mars 1974
Closure of slaughterhouses
Closure of slaughterhouses 15 mars 1974 (≈ 1974)
End of original bovine activity.
2 mars 1979
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 2 mars 1979 (≈ 1979)
Official protection of the building.
1983–1985 et 2005–2007
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation 1983–1985 et 2005–2007 (≈ 1984)
Cultural transformations by Reichen and Robert.
2019
Exhibition Toutânkhamon
Exhibition Toutânkhamon 2019 (≈ 2019)
Record attendance (1.4M visitors).
2024
Fan Olympic Games area
Fan Olympic Games area 2024 (≈ 2024)
Club France for the Paris Olympics.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Jules de Mérindol (1815–1888) - Architect
Original designer of the hall.
Louis-Adolphe Janvier - Assistant Architect
Merindol's collaborator.
Bernard Reichen et Philippe Robert - Architects
Authors of pardons (1983–2007).
Origin and history
The Grande Halle de la Villette, originally called the "Bef Hall", was built between 1865 and 1867 as part of the former slaughterhouses in Paris, in the Pont-de-Flandre district. Designed by architect Jules de Mérindol (1815–888), student of Victor Baltard, and assisted by Louis-Adolphe January, it represented at the time the largest permanent Parisian metal building. Intended to host up to 5,000 cattle at weekly markets (Mondays and Thursdays), it was the economic centre of slaughterhouses until their closure in 1974. The other two adjacent halls, dedicated to sheep and calves/pigs, have since disappeared or been dismantled.
Ranked a historic monument by decree of 2 March 1979, the Grande Halle was preserved when the site was transformed into a Parc de la Villette. Rehabilitated twice (1983–1985 and 2005–2007) by architects Bernard Reichen and Philippe Robert, it has become a versatile space welcoming exhibitions, salons (such as the Whisky Live or tattoo salon), concerts, and major events. These include the exhibition Tutânkhamon, the treasure of Pharaoh (2019, record attendance with 1.4 million visitors) and the exhibition Napoleon for the bicentenary of his death in 2021.
The building, with an area of 26 000 m2 (345 m long, 85 m wide, 19 m high), combines iron and cast iron structures, a legacy of its past industrial use. Today run by the Public Establishment of the Park and the Grand Hall of La Villette (EPPGHV) since 1993, it also houses a restaurant, a bookshop, and a lobby. For the Olympic Games of 2024, it serves as a fan zone ("Club France"), broadcasting competitions and welcoming medal-winning athletes.
Around the Grande Halle there are other remains of the slaughterhouses, also classified: the Bourse pavilion (Paris-Villette theatre), the Janvier pavilion (EPPGHV headquarters), the Charolais pavilion (Hall de la chanson), and the Lions of Nubie fountain (1811), moved in 1867. These elements bear witness to the industrial and architectural history of the site, now dedicated to culture and leisure.
Propose an amendment
Future
Since the birth of the Parc de la Villette at the site of the former slaughterhouses, the Grande Halle has become a hall welcoming cultural events and salons. Since 1993, the public establishment of the Parc et de la Grande Halle de la Villette has been responsible for cultural management and programming.
