Grand Palais — Attraction in Paris

Grand Palais, (French: “Great Palace”) exhibition hall and museum complex built between the Champs-Élysées and the Seine River in Paris for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. A masterpiece of Classicism and Art Nouveau, this Beaux Arts structure (built 1897–1900), with its large stone colonnades and enormous conservatory-style glass roof, is a major tourist attraction and a Parisian landmark

A competition was held in 1894 for the general layout of the Exposition Universelle, for which some 100 projects were considered. The first-prize winner was Eugène Hénard, for whose project the Palace of Industry (constructed for an international exposition in 1855) was to be demolished to make way for a grand exhibition hall (the Grand Palais), a smaller exhibition building (the Petit Palais), and a bridge (Pont Alexandre III). A new street (present-day Avenue Winston-Churchill) connecting the Champs-Élysées to the bridge also was subsequently built. In 1896 a second competition was held for the actual design of the Grand Palais, and this time the award was granted jointly to the four top architects. Henri Deglane, Albert Louvet, and Albert Thomas were each assigned a different portion of the building to design, while the whole project was overseen by Charles Girault. The intention was to link the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais, and the Pont Alexandre III to the Champs-Élysées and to the Hôtel des Invalides across the Seine.

The Grand Palais’s stone facades, columns, and friezes exhibit features of Classical design, while the intricate metalwork inside is in the style of classic Art Nouveau. The building is composed of three major areas: the Galeries Nationales, the Palais de la Découverte, and the Nave. The area known as the Nave is an iron-and-steel structure with stone walls, and it is crowned by elegant glass vaults. The Nave’s glass roof constitutes the largest such structure in Europe, reaching a height of 45 metres (150 feet) under its dome and spanning some 200 metres (650 feet) in length. At the heart of the Nave is the Great Staircase. This wrought-iron structure, with its mosaic floor and limestone steps, is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau style. Altogether, the three sections of the Grand Palais cover 72,000 square metres (775,000...

One thing we would absolutely emphasize for the first time visitors. Grand Palais doesn't have one entrance, but three entrances. The main entrance, along avenue Winston Churchill (opposite Le Petit Palais), one on the corner of avenue Winston Churchill and avenue du Général Eisenhower (corner entrance with a staircase) and one along avenue du Général Eisenhower. Walking from the corner towards the last entrance, there is an additional entrance, but that's the police post, the Police Commissariat of the 8th arrondissement, not intended for visitors. As a matter of fact, there is a fourth entrance, behind the museum, on avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and even though being a part of the Grand Palais complex, it is a separate science museum, Palais de la Découverte. Try to find out where exactly "your" exhibition is located before heading to the Grand Palais. Grand Palais is a very versatile museum space, and it hosts numerous events, from automobile salons to art exhibitions and food shows. The building itself is magnificent, a fine example of the Beaux-Arts architectural style, a true embodiment of La Belle Époque. It wasn't our first time at the Grand Palais, but the exhibition we visited, "Toulouse-Lautrec: Resolutely Modern" dedicated to the great post-Impressionist artist was nothing short of excellent. Located on several levels, it was the most comprehensive exposition of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, with works from the museums in private collections, from Brazil and the USA to Russia and England. We won't elaborate on the details of the exposition, for it closed about 2 weeks ago, but enough is to state that it felt like a more significant cultural event than the much-touted Leonardo da Vinci's exhibit at Louvre. We would also like to stress the importance of an audio-guide. And it is not about a language barrier (we know French quite well, plus all the signage was in both French and English) but about new and exciting information and enriching explanations one gets from an audio-guide, even if/when you think you know the works, particular artist...

The Grand Palais can be seen in the background as you approach Pont Alexandre. This famous bridge can be seen in many movies featuring Paris due to the gold fixtures and contrasting lampposts. Both the Grand Palais and the bridge were built in the early 20th century to prepare for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. The Grand Palais serves as a large open space in which larger expositions and events can be held. It sits across from the Petit Palais which is another famous photography location due to the large main gate. During the month of December into early January you can take advantage of the largest indoor rink in the world that they offer inside the palace. There are different price rates depending on the time of day but we chose to visit at night. From 8PM-2AM they have open ice skating that seems like more of a nightclub environment. With a live DJ and huge disco ball in the middle they have intricate light shows throughout the night and play a variety of music. Although this is the most expensive time to visit we figured it would be the most memorable. Depending on when you visit either in the morning hours (22 USD), afternoon hours (28 USD), or at night (32 USD) the prices will vary per adult. Thankfully this includes unlimited use during the time frames and they also offer bag and coat check for 1 USD and sell food and drinks inside. Although it is a bit pricey we think this a good opportunity to ice skate in Paris without having to be out in the cold but still getting a unique and photo-worthy...