Grand Palais, Exhibition palace in Champs-Élysées district, France
The Grand Palais is an exhibition hall in the Champs-Élysées district of Paris, standing on Avenue Winston Churchill and overlooking the Seine. Stone facades combine with metal framing and glass vaults, while the central glass dome rises 45 meters (148 feet) above ground and spans the large interior space.
The building was constructed for the Universal Exposition in 1900 to showcase the technical possibilities of the era. During the First World War it served as a military hospital, and later became a meeting point for the Résistance during the Second World War.
The central nave retains its original name from the Belle Époque era and continues to serve as a setting for major public gatherings beneath the soaring ceiling. During large exhibitions, visitors move through the space between monumental columns, while natural daylight filters down through thousands of glass panels overhead.
The building remains closed for renovation until spring 2025, when it will host fencing and taekwondo during the Paris Olympics. Visitors can still view the exterior facade and surrounding grounds, though access to the interior is temporarily unavailable.
A police station operates in the basement to protect artworks during major events. This facility was established after several thefts in the 1980s and remains invisible to the public.
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