Point of interest
Centre Pompidou
in Paris, France
This radically inside-out building houses Europe's largest modern-art museum, a stone's throw from the Marais. Note: a major renovation closes it until around 2030.
Where it is
The Centre Pompidou stands in the Beaubourg quarter of the 4th arrondissement, between Les Halles and the Marais.
Address: 19 Rue Beaubourg, 75004 Paris
What it is
Known for its modern and contemporary art, the Bpi public library and its architectural statement, the centre is closed from September 2025 until an expected 2030 for a major renovation. During the closure its programme continues at partner venues in France and abroad; on-site visits resume only after reopening.
History
Designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, the building opened in 1977 under President Georges Pompidou and broke every convention with its inside-out structure of colour-coded ducts and glazed escalators. It houses the Musée national d'art moderne, Europe's largest collection of modern art.