Grand Palais

The decision to host the Universal Exposition of 1900 in Paris created a deep divide within the French Republic, as critics saw it as an economic drain on provincial resources with little benefit to the country as a whole. The construction of the Grand Palais, the centerpiece of the exposition, was not immune to these criticisms.

Unlike other major projects in the city, such as the Trocadéro or Garnier opera house, only French architects were considered for the Grand Palais. The project was awarded to four architects, each with a specific area of responsibility.

The palace opened on May 1, 1900, and was used for a variety of exhibitions and shows, including art exhibitions and a riding competition that ran for over 50 years. The main space, which was almost 240 meters long, was constructed with an iron, steel, and glass barrel-vaulted roof, the last of its kind before the age of electricity.

The exterior of the palace combined a Classical stone façade with Art Nouveau ironwork, and featured allegorical statue groups created by several sculptors. Two monumental bronze quadriga, one on each wing of the main façade, topped the building.

The structure faced problems from the outset, as subsidence caused by a drop in the water table led to a need to sink supporting posts to firmer soil. This subsidence, coupled with other issues like differential rates of expansion and contraction between cast iron and steel members, led to water damage and corrosion. In 1993, one of the glass ceiling panels fell, prompting the closure of the main space for restoration. It was not fully reopened to the public until 2007.

Despite these challenges, the Grand Palais remains an iconic symbol of innovation and modernity, showcasing the best of French architecture and design from the turn of the century.

World Wars I and II

During World War I, the Palais was repurposed as a military hospital where local artists who were not deployed to the front were employed to adorn hospital rooms and create molds for prosthetic limbs.

Subsequently, the Palais was utilized by the Nazis during their occupation of France in World War II. Initially functioning as a truck depot, the building was later used to house two Nazi propaganda exhibitions.

During the Liberation of Paris, the Palais was utilized as a headquarters by the Parisian resistance. On August 23, 1944, a German column was fired upon from a window on the Avenue de Sèlves, prompting the Germans to launch a tank attack on the Palais. The ensuing attack caused a fire that consumed hay prepared for a circus show, resulting in significant damage to the building due to thick black smoke. By August 26, the building was liberated when American jeeps were parked in the nave, followed by tanks from the French 2nd Armored Division.

The Grand Palais is a prominent venue in Paris, France, which houses a major police station in the basement to safeguard exhibits on show in the Galeries nationales du Grand Palais. It hosts a variety of events and exhibitions, including science museums and picture exhibitions like the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux Arts, Salon d'Automne, and Salon Comparaisons. The Palais was the venue for the 2010 World Fencing Championships and the final stage of the Tour de France in 2017. In 2011, it hosted the Monumenta exhibition featuring Anish Kapoor's Leviathan installation.

The Grand Palais is currently closed for significant renovation works and will reopen in time for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where it will host the fencing and taekwondo events. It will reopen to the public in Spring 2025. During its closure, exhibitions that would otherwise be held there will be hosted by other locations, including the Grand Palais Éphémère, the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris, and the Palais de la Bourse in Marseille.