The only museum in the world that offers an overall view on the 20th and 21st cent. in a totally renewed historical presentation opening in 2007. This historical journey begins with the founding fathers of Modern Art (Matisse, Picasso, Duchamp, Kandinsky, Ernst, Warhol, etc.) and carries on to the latest contemporary artists.

Exhibitions

Between Centre Pompidou and the Church of Saint-Merri sits the Stravinsky Fountain, a whimsical brightly coloured fountain depicting sixteen works of sculpture, incorporating free running water that represents The Rite of Spring by the composer Igor Stravinsky. Created by sculptors Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle in 1983 it’s one of Paris’ most iconic fountains (if not slightly bizarre) but true to its modern art influences fits perfectly in its location.

Stravinsky Fountain

Between Centre Pompidou and the Church of Saint-Merri sits the Stravinsky Fountain, a whimsical brightly coloured fountain depicting sixteen works of sculpture, incorporating free running water that represents The Rite of Spring by the composer Igor Stravinsky. Created by sculptors Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle in 1983 it’s one of Paris’ most iconic fountains (if not slightly bizarre) but true to its modern art influences fits perfectly in its location.

Library

The library in Centre Pompidou actually has two libraries; first the Public Information Library, accessible to the public, and free of charge; and second, the Kandinsky library, which focuses on the research and documentation relating to modern art. They’re both a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to indulge in a bit of research or just to have a look around the vast collections of information.

Glass Tube

When Richard Rogers, one of the three architects who worked on the Centre Pompidou, won his own Pritzker Prize, the New York Times wrote of his Paris building that it "turned the architecture world upsidedown." The Pritzker judges claimed that the Centre "revolutionized mediums." In a landscape overwhelmed with concrete structures, this tube-covered creature made from glass and steel would change contemporary architecture forever.

Top View

Besides housing the largest modern art museum in Europe, a vast public library, a center for music and acoustic research IRCAM, this 7 level high-tech structure also offers great views over the central part of the city of Paris. For a 3€ fee (get your tickets in vending machines inside the building to avoid waiting in line), visitors can get access to the top of the building by the escalator running through a glass tube on the outside of the building. So get your camera ready on the ground floor, face the square down below while on the escalator and watch the city slowly unfold in front of your eyes and your camera as you rise all the way to level 6.

How to get there

Subway - Rambuteau

RER - Châtelet - Les Halles

Bus - 21, 29, 38, 47, 58, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 81, 85, 96

Parking Pompidou: entrance at rue Beaubourg or rue des Halles via underground tunnel.