Pompidou Centre

The Pompidou Centre houses the collection of the Musée national d'art moderne (National Museum of Modern Art). One of the World's foremost collections of 20th century art, it contains about 53,000 works in the field of the creative arts, including architecture, cinema, design, painting, photography, sculpture and new media.

Level 5 of the building is devoted to modern art from 1905 to 1960, including artists such as Dali and Picasso. Level 4 covers contemporary art from 1960, including such artists as Boltanski, Penone and Rondinone. 

In addition to the permanent collection, there are regular special exhibitions. Only a selection of the works is on display at any given time, but the works on view are alternated regularly.

The building itself is of a striking design, which you will either love or hate. It is based on ideas put forward by architects Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini for an international architectural competition launched in 1970. Building work started in 1972 and the Centre Pompidou opened in February 1977.

Designed in two parts, three levels house the technical facilities and service areas, and there are a further seven levels of glass and steel for the Centre's main activities. To maximise internal space, the ducts, stairs, and escalators have been built on the outside of the building. The ducts have been specially colour coded, with blue for air, red for movement (escalators) and safety, yellow for electricity and green for water.

Visiting Address:
 Place Georges Pompidou
 75004 Paris

Nearest Metro stations:
 Rambuteau, Hôtel de Ville, Châtelet

Opening Hours:
 Open every day except Tuesdays and May 1st.
 Museum and Exhibitions: 11am to 9pm, (last admissions 8pm).

Construction Date:
 1977

Architect:
 Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini

Website address
 http://www.centrepompidou.fr/