museum
Centre Pompidou
A bold architectural icon by Piano and Rogers, home to Europe's largest modern art museum.
History & context
Opened in 1977, the Pompidou Centre revolutionised museum architecture by exposing its color-coded "guts": blue pipes for air, green for water, yellow for electricity, red for circulation.
It holds Europe's largest modern and contemporary art collection (1905–today).
A major renovation is planned from late 2025 — check before going.
Key facts
- Built
- 1971–1977
- Architect
- Renzo Piano & Richard Rogers
- Style
- High-tech
- District
- 4th — Beaubourg
Why visit
- ·Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, Duchamp, Warhol
- ·Top-floor view across Paris
- ·Iconic high-tech architecture
- ·Lively Beaubourg square
- ·Free public library (BPI)
What to see
- ·Modern collection (1905-1965)
- ·Contemporary collection
- ·Stravinsky fountain
- ·Beaubourg square
Practical tips
- ·Building closes for renovation late 2025 — check before going
- ·Rooftop view included
- ·Much quieter than Orsay
Good to know
- ·Closed on Tuesdays.
- ·Rooftop view included in some tickets.
- ·Hours and prices may change: check centrepompidou.fr.
- ·Closing for renovation from late 2025.
Schedules and tickets may change. Check the official website before booking.
Frequently asked
＋Do I need to like contemporary art to enjoy it?
＋How much time should I plan?
＋Is it good with kids?
Nearby
Le Marais
A historic aristocratic quarter turned trendy heart of Paris, mixing mansions and boutiques.
Île de la Cité
Historical cradle of Paris in the middle of the Seine, the founding site of Lutetia.
Notre-Dame de Paris
A Gothic masterpiece on the Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024 after a historic restoration.