The Grand Palais for the world's elite

Like its illustrious neighbor, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais was born for a World's Fair, in this case, the 1900 Exposition Universelle. Designed by architects Henri Deglane, Albert Louvet, and Albert Thomas, this eclectic monument blends neoclassicism, Art Nouveau, and modernity—a distillation of influences from France's Belle Époque. Its glass roof, one of the largest in Europe, originally provided the bright, natural light necessary to appreciate the artworks and scientific projects on display.

Initially intended to host temporary exhibitions and cultural events, the Grand Palais became an essential fixture of Parisian artistic life over the decades. It has since hosted salons, fashion shows, and major retrospectives. Between 1914 and 1918, it was requisitioned as a military hospital, before returning to its cultural roots once the war ended.

Today, the recently restored Grand Palais continues to shine with world-class temporary exhibitions, located just a few hundred meters from your room at the Mathis.