Centre Pompidou Paris

The "Centre National d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou", as is the full name of what is commonly known in its short form as the Centre Pompidou, is located in the 4th arrondissement (district) of Paris and is a museum, cinema and, above all, an architectural masterpiece at the same time.

It was opened in 1977 and was meant to make people come together from any social class to acquire and celebrate knowledge. Furthermore, this cultural hub was built to emphasise Paris' position as an international metropolis for art along with New York.

The building is especially accentuated by its special architecture. On the east side of the exterior façade, the entire energy and building technology is visible and also coloured depending on the function of each item. For instance, anything coloured yellow stands for electricity, whereas transportation is marked in red. The building benefits from the advantage that all walls are moveable. On the west side of the Centre Pompidou, one can see the escalator sheltered with a transparent cover.

In the past, the Centre Pompidou had several times been used as a film setting. The film James Bond Moonraker, for instance, was partially shot here. The pedestrian's tube was an important setting for the film.

Visit the Centre Pompidou

A part of the Parisian national library is accommodated in the Centre Pompidou. The squares around the Centre Pompidou are crowded by street musicians, fire-eaters and countless other attractions. It's therefore worth exploring street life around the Centre Pompidou. Adjacent to the cultural centre, one will discover the Strawinski well that was designed by Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely. In its vicinity, one can also find the forum Les Halles and the Hôtel de Ville, Paris' city hall.

The Centre Pompidou is centrally located and therefore easily reachable:

By subway

Use metro line 11 and get off at the station “Rambouteau”.

By city train

Take the RER and get off at the station “Châtelet – Les Halles”.

By bus

There are numerous buses calling at the Centre Pompidou. Lines 21, 47, 74, and 81 will take you here to name just a few.