Paris' Grand Palais (Big Palace) was built for the
World Fair of 1900. The building is best known for its enormous glass
roof. It is home to a science museum, the Palais de la Découverte.
Building the Palace
Grand Palais
The glass dome
'Galloping horses'
In 1900, Paris was playing host to the World's Fair. Because of the
importance of the event, the city undertook a number of building
projects which included the construction of the Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais and the smaller but similar Petit Palais.
The Grand Palais is one of Paris' most recognizable landmarks thanks to
its magnificent glass-domed roof. It was the work of three different
architects but the project was overseen by famed French architect
Charles Girault, who was then given carte blanche to design the Petit Palais. The building is a beautiful combination of a classicist stone facade, art-nouveau ironwork and glass.
The Grand Palais is currently the largest existing ironwork and glass structure in the world, a title once held by London's Crystal Palace, which was lost in a fire. This palace with the Belle Epoque-style pinnacle boasts 9,400 tons of steel framework, 15,000 sq. meter (162,000 sq ft) of glass, and about 5,000 square meter (5,400 sq ft) of galvanized iron/zinc roofing. The exterior is made of stone and features beautiful colored mosaics and intricately sculpted statues.
The Grand Palais is currently the largest existing ironwork and glass structure in the world, a title once held by London's Crystal Palace, which was lost in a fire. This palace with the Belle Epoque-style pinnacle boasts 9,400 tons of steel framework, 15,000 sq. meter (162,000 sq ft) of glass, and about 5,000 square meter (5,400 sq ft) of galvanized iron/zinc roofing. The exterior is made of stone and features beautiful colored mosaics and intricately sculpted statues.
Renovations
'Peace'
After one of the Grand Palais' glass ceiling tiles
fell in 1993, the building was closed for more than a decade for
renovations. The first portion reopened in 2004, the remainder in 2007.
Renovations included repair of the metal framework, replacement of the glass, and the repairing and recovering of the roof. Some of the Grand Palais' artwork also got a facelift, including Georges Recipon's galloping horse sculptures at the top of the building's corners. The mosaics were also completely repaired and restored.
Renovations included repair of the metal framework, replacement of the glass, and the repairing and recovering of the roof. Some of the Grand Palais' artwork also got a facelift, including Georges Recipon's galloping horse sculptures at the top of the building's corners. The mosaics were also completely repaired and restored.
What's Inside?
Palais de la Découverte
For more than 100 years, the Grand Palais has been a
public exhibition hall and host to a variety of grand events. Though
the main gallery is now a designated site for displaying contemporary
art, you'll see everything here from antique car shows to fashion
extravaganzas from some of Paris's top designers.
There are actually three different areas in the Grand Palais, each with a different entrance: the Palais de la Découverte (a science museum) is at the Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, the Galeries National du Grand Palais (an exposition hall) has an entrance at the Clémenceau Square and the entrance to the Nef du Grand Palais (an event hall) is at the Avenue Winston Churchill (opposite the Petit Palais).
There are actually three different areas in the Grand Palais, each with a different entrance: the Palais de la Découverte (a science museum) is at the Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, the Galeries National du Grand Palais (an exposition hall) has an entrance at the Clémenceau Square and the entrance to the Nef du Grand Palais (an event hall) is at the Avenue Winston Churchill (opposite the Petit Palais).
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