Important update for travelers in 2026: As part of the “Renewal 2030” project, a building Center Pompidou Paris Currently completely closed for extensive renovations. But don't worry, Pompidou Museum Alive and kicking outside its walls! The modern and contemporary art collections are now on display at the Grand Palais and as part of the “Constellation” program in hundreds of locations in France and around the world. Read on to find out where to find the works this year.
In a survey conducted a few years ago among quite a few residents Paris has come Center Pompidou Second place on the list of buildings Parisians want to demolish (first place is Montparnasse TowerOn the other hand, it is one of the most successful museums in Paris, which even surpassed The Louvre Museum At a certain time in the number of visitors. Parisians have a love-hate relationship with this building, as evidenced by the huge lines on weekends and holidays when you will hear almost exclusively French. There is also a heated debate among Israelis whether this is an ugly building that displays dull art or a brilliant building that displays fascinating and innovative art.
When I created the first version of this guide, I received feedback that it was a bit unfair for me to write about Center Pompidou Because I am one of those people who, until recently, saw it as an unfortunate architectural accident (although, as you will see in the article, my opinion has changed a little). And the truth is, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how justified this feedback is, because it is difficult for someone who does not like modern art and does not like this building to explain its charm to the millions of visitors who visit it every year. Fortunately, my dear Francophile friend Joel Tamanlis, picked up the gauntlet and added quite a bit of important information about the place to the article. Information that is conveyed entirely through the eyes of a true lover.
The result is, in my opinion, the ultimate guide to the Pompidou Center because it not only contains all the information you need to visit it, but also contains both schools of thought: those who see it as a brilliant structure and those who would be happy if it disappeared from the face of the earth. So before we begin our journey towards the 4th arrondissement of Paris, where the museum is located, let's take a look at the following video that will get us in the mood.
Secrets of Le Marais: A Journey into the Historic and Chic Heart of Paris
Join us on a virtual journey to the most fascinating district in Paris. Together we will discover hidden courtyards, French nobility, and the true stories behind the magnificent facades.
Important information for visitors (Update 2026 – Renovation Period)
Since many of you are looking for the “Takhles”, let’s start with the latest logistical information. Note that in 2026, the visit toPompidou Museum It looks completely different because of the closure of the central building.
Where do you buy tickets and where are the exhibitions being shown in 2026?
As the main building on Place Beauvoir is closed to the public, tickets cannot be purchased as before. However, the museum continues to operate in full force in alternative locations, most notably the Grand Palais. You can find the activities and exhibitions taking place there below:
Beyond the exhibitions at the Grand Palais, it is worth knowing that the BPI library has temporarily moved to the Lumière building in the 12th arrondissement, and during 2026 a new and fascinating branch of the museum is opening in the suburb of Massy.
For more information on other active museums that you can visit now, I highly recommend taking a look at my guide on Museums in Paris for the year 2026.
How do you get to the Historical Museum neighborhood?
AlthoughCenter Pompidou Paris Closed for renovations, its square (the plaza) remains a central hub of activity in the district. The building's address is Place Georges-Pompidou, adjacent to Rue Beaubourg.
The most convenient way to get to the building and see the progress of the renovation project is by taking line 11, which stops at Rambuteau station (about a 3-minute walk). Alternatively, you can also take automatic line 1, get off at Hotel de Ville, and walk for about 10 minutes.
The Story of the Pompidou Center: A Revolution in the Heart of Paris
The Pompidou Center is right on the border between Marais District and the Les Halles area. It all started when it was decided to move the nearby wholesale market, which was causing huge traffic jams, to the town of Rungis, south of Paris. As a result, a large area of land was freed up in the eastern part of the market, and there, the French Minister of Culture, André Malraux, decided to establish a cultural center. Unlike the ugly shopping mall of Les Halles, which was built on the ruins of the beautiful metal and glass buildings of Baltar, this museum was to be built in an area where there were no buildings of any architectural value. So at least those who built the museum did not destroy anything beautiful along the way…
Now Paris has its own monster.
After the decision was made to build the arts center, a design competition was announced, which attracted 681 architects, and the winning architects were Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. The planners paid attention to every detail, so the colors of the exterior piping of the innovative building have a meaning: blue for air conditioning, green for water, red for escalators, and yellow for the electrical system. The work began in 1971 and was completed in 1977 (the year I was born), during which the president of the France Georges Pompidou. Since the president was very fond of modern architecture and was one of those who initiated the establishment of the museum, it was only natural that the place would be named after him.
It is said that when the museum opened, quite a few Parisians were sure that someone had gotten confused and forgotten to take down the scaffolding from the building before the launch. That is how surprising and innovative the transparent architecture of the place was. As I wrote in the introduction, a large part of Parisians loathed the place from day one, and the newspaper Le Figaro even published an article that read: “Now Paris also has its monster, Loch Ness is not alone.” And the truth is that this “monster” knew how to swallow quite a bit of money. Its construction cost close to a billion francs, and the current comprehensive renovation that is being carried out in 2025-2030 (under the National Renewal Project) is estimated at around 463 million euros with the aim of adapting and optimizing the structure for the next 50 years. So is all this worth the money?
How did I stop hating the Pompidou Center? By Zvi Hazanov
Anyone who knows my artistic tastes will not be surprised that I, too, treated the Pompidou Center as an abomination. Literally ran through the beauty hall of the City of Lights. I didn’t believe I would ever set foot in this place until Noli Omar arrived. Noli (from the duo “Debbie and Noli”) is not only a talented comedian but also an artist and as such she is very interested in modern art. And so, kicking and screaming, Noli dragged me one day in 2014 into the belly of the “monster.” And the truth? The experience wasn’t that terrible.
The central space of the Pompidou Center is very spacious and airy and gives a feeling of freedom. But beyond that, this design reminded me of a huge video game hall (of the kind that were very popular in the 80s) and there's nothing like nostalgia to make me start loving the place. My love continued as I climbed the escalators to the upper floors of the museum. Through the transparent tubes you can see the La God, the Stravinsky Fountain and the Church of Saint Mary. Simply wonderful! Then you reach the roof and all of Paris opens up before you. Without a doubt, this is a spectacular panoramic view that no amateur photographer will miss. And I haven't even mentioned "Georges", the rooftop bar that opened there, which you can read about in the article Recommended bars in Paris.
Why is it a must to visit the Pompidou Museum? By Yoel Tamanlis
In a very unusual ultra-modern structure of Pompidou Museum, built from a steel frame resembling giant colored tubes, glass and external escalators, there is a constant happening of multifunctional contemporary art and culture. It is one of the best and most important museums in the world for modern art, holding a collection of over 140,000 works. In fact, the museum is the chronological successor to the Musée d'Orsay.
Modern art at its best
It has special collections representing modern art from 1905 onwards, from a variety of works by French and other artists. Among them, you will find famous works by Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, Léger and more. One of the most interesting things is that you can find works from almost all the important periods of art: Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract, Avant-garde, Realism and more. As mentioned, during the renovation work (until 2030), the center’s management guarantees that these vast collections will not remain crammed into warehouses, but will be exhibited throughout France and the world through the “Constellation” initiative.
Stravinsky Square
Adjacent to the southern wall of Center Pompidou Paris, in Igor Stravinsky Square, between bustling cafes and an impressive Gothic church named after Saint-Marie, is a lovely and unique colorful fountain, with strange colorful water sculptures designed by sculptor Niki de Saint-Pal. Additional elements in the fountain were designed by Jean Tinguely. Over the years, the fountain has become one of the most photographed focal points in the city, and you can continue to enjoy it even now that the main building of the museum is covered in scaffolding.
The building, which was initially defined as “rejected,” raised millions of eyebrows and opened many mouths, but over time it became very popular in the city and a symbol of architectural innovation. Today, it is clear to everyone that it expresses a new cultural policy, and advances Paris towards the coveted title of “Art Capital of the World.” To truly love the place, you have to treat the building itself as a work of modern art.
Is it worth living near the Pompidou Center in Paris?
I really like living in the area. Center Pompidou, not because I love the building or the art inside it (as you have already learned from the article) but because the location is simply wonderful. To the east is the Mara district and to the west is theMontreuil Street for its many culinary attractions. You can also find great options in my guide to Hotels in 4st District.
The distance to Rue de Rivoli is also not far at all, and from there you can easily skip to the Ile de la Cité and the Left Bank. Add to that the fact that there are quite a few great Asian restaurants not far away (Paris' little Chinatown is a few minutes' walk away) and you'll discover a simply winning location.
Excellent apartments opposite the Pompidou Museum
Have I convinced you to look for places to stay near the Pompidou Museum? With that, let me recommend a few Audi apartments, which are right next to it. These apartments are on Simon Le Franc Street and you will see the Pompidou Center from the window (I don't know if that's an advantage or a disadvantage 🙂 ). I lived there with my parents several times and we always enjoyed the high-quality furnishings, the ideal location and the great service. Oh, did I mention that the owner is Israeli? 🙂
You can find all of these apartments, along with other apartments in equally great locations, on the apartments website. Edla Paris.
And what about hotels?
There are quite a few hotels within a few minutes' walk of the Pompidou Museum in the western part of the 4rd arrondissement and also in the XNUMXth arrondissement (the part close to Rue Rivoli). Here are two such hotels that I stayed in and which I liked:
If you would like to find more hotels near the Pompidou Center, you can find them on this map:
Open the map in a separate window
A few words about Yoel Tamanlis
Yoel is a Francophile who currently lives in Modi'in. In addition to being a journalist, he is also a photographer, and if you are interested in enjoying his beautiful photographs of Paris, you are welcome to take a look at the page Paris via ZoomIf you want to read the articles he published on the site Go to this link.
Hello Zvi,
Another top-notch importance to the existence of the Pompidou Center. Since admission to the building itself is free [excluding the exhibitions], it is a golden opportunity in the center of Paris to use luxurious and clean restrooms for free.
In my experience, don't underestimate!
Absolutely right!
Unlike other museums, the Pompidou Center is not just an exhibition space but creates a space for sharing a panel between visitors, the community, and the exhibits. It is the first museum that paved the way for active and interactive museums in the world and for modern art exhibitions. The center also brings people who are not art lovers closer to the field, and even if you said you “can’t stand” the structure, you addressed it, and that is progress and advancement.
From a Francophile to a Francophile - an interesting article and I've already made a reservation for my next trip to Paris to dedicate a day to the Pompidou Center and the surrounding area ❤
Please note that the building is currently under renovation, so you enter from the back side. The entrance from the plaza is closed and the impressive view will not actually exist until the renovation is complete. For updates
Thanks for the update.
As of June 2022, the Stravinsky Fountain is closed. Access to the rooftop observation deck (6th floor) is free - you can enter the building without tickets and go up the escalator.
Thank you very much for the update.