General Information

The Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées is a large historic site, exhibition hall and museum complex. Opened in 1900, it is the largest ironwork and glass structure in the world and combines Classical and Art nouveau features. It houses well-frequented exhibitions, events and fashion shows by French designers. And there are two beehives on the roof.

History: Highlights

The Grand Palais was opened for the Universal Exposition of 1900 with the purpose of housing artistic events. Since then, it has hosted art exhibitions, as well as various shows reflecting modern life, such as the development of automobile, aviation, household appliances. After an extensive and troublesome restoration, it was reopened in 2007.

History: Explained

Construction of the Grand Palais began in 1897 following the demolition of the Palais de l’Industrie (Palace of the Industry) as part of the preparation works for the Universal Exposition of 1900, which also included the creation of the adjacent Petit Palais and Pont Alexandre III. The competition to choose the architect was fierce and controversial, and ultimately resulted in the contract being awarded to a group of four architects, each with a separate area of responsibility.
The grand inauguration took place May 1, 1900, and from the very beginning the palace was the site of different kinds of shows in addition to the intended art exhibitions. These included a riding competition that took place annually from 1901 to 1957, but were mainly dedicated to innovation and modernity: the automobile, aviation, household appliances, and so on. The golden age of the art exhibitions as such lasted for some thirty years, while the last took place in 1947. The first major Matisse retrospective after his death was held at the Grand Palais in 1970 and was an incredible success.
The structure itself, however, had problems that started even before it was completed, mainly as a result of subsidence caused by a drop in the water table. Further damage occurred once the building was in use. Excessive force applied to structural members during the installation of certain exhibitions caused damage, as did acid runoff from the horse shows. Differential rates of expansion and contraction between cast iron and steel members allowed for water to enter, leading to corrosion and further weakening. When finally one of the glass ceiling panels fell in 1993, the main space had to be closed for restoration work, and was not fully reopened to the public until 2007.
The Palais served as a military hospital during World War I, employing local artists that had not deployed to the front to decorate hospital rooms or to make moulds for prosthetic limbs. During World War II and the Occupation of France the Nazis put the Palais to use: first it was used as a truck depot, then it housed two Nazi propaganda exhibitions.
During the Liberation of Paris the Parisian resistance used the Grand Palais as a headquarters. The Germans launched a tank attack upon the Palais. It caused a fire which damaged the building badly.

Structure: Highlights

Designed by four architects (H. Deglane, A. Louvet, A. Thomas, Ch.Girault) and constructed of iron, steel and glass, with a transparent, barrel-vaulted roof, the Grand Palais combines the characteristics of Classical and Art Nouveau styles. One thing to know about the Grand Palais: it really is big. It covers 77,000 square metres.

Structure: Explained

The structure comprises three areas, each with its own entrance: Palais de la Découverte (a science museum) at the Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, the Galeries National du Grand Palais (an exposition hall) with an entrance at the Clémenceau Square and the Nef du Grand Palais (an event hall) with an entrance at the Avenue Winston Churchill. Since 2011, the Grand Palais has displayed ‘Leviathan’ – an enormous sculpture by Anish Kapoor.
The Grand Palais was built in the style of Beaux-Arts architecture as taught by the École des Beaux-Arts of Paris. The building reflects the movement’s taste for ornate decoration through its stone facades, the formality of its floor planning and the use of techniques that were innovative at the time, such as its glass vault, its structure made of iron and light steel framing, and its use of reinforced concrete.
The main space, almost 240 metres long, was constructed with an iron, steel and glass barrel-vaulted roof, making it the last of the large transparent structures inspired by London’s Crystal Palace that were necessary for large gatherings of people before the age of electricity. The main space was originally connected to the other parts of the palace along an east-west axis by a grand staircase in a style combining Classical and Art Nouveau, but the interior layout has since been somewhat modified.
The exterior of this massive palace combines an imposing Classical stone façade with a riot of Art Nouveau ironwork, and a number of allegorical statue groups. A monumental bronze quadriga by Georges Récipon tops each wing of the main façade. The one on the Champs-Élysées side depicts Immortality prevailing over Time, the one on the Seine side Harmony triumphing over Discord.
A little known fact is that the Grand Palais has a major police station in the basement, which helps protect the exhibits on show.