Grand Palais

The Grand Palais is one of Paris's most emblematic monuments. Built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, its distinctive feature is the large glass dome flanked by the French flag. An architectural masterpiece combining stone, steel and glass, it has been listed as a historic monument since November 2000. It comprises 3 main sites: the Nave, the Galeries nationales and the Palais de la Découverte. The imposing 240-meter-long Nave hosts major national and international events in a wide variety of fields (horse-riding, contemporary art, funfairs, etc.). The Galeries nationales organize large-scale exhibitions on artists who have left their mark on art history (Picasso, Hopper, Renoir...). The Palais de la Découverte is a museum and cultural center dedicated to the sciences, where children can have fun learning through the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. An unmissable 3-in-1 site, just a stone's throw from the Champs-Élysées.

Did you know?
The Grand Palais became involved in Olympic history not only by hosting artistic competitions during the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, but also by transforming itself a century later to host sporting disciplines such as fencing, taekwondo and wheelchair fencing, demonstrating its versatility and commitment to the Olympic Games.

Opening times and prices

According to the programming.

According to the programming.

Services

Regularly offers for main exhibitions

Disability

Physical disability:
- lowered/adapted reception desk/till
- communal disabled toilets with grab rail and adapted sink
- alternatives to stairs available
- entrance B on Avenue Général Eisenhower is reserved for visitors with reduced mobility - steep slope to go down
- visits are pre-planned and accompanied (access to upper floors via seperate lift)
- cane chairs and wheelchairs available to hire (ID required)
- for security reasons, the Grand Palais cannot accept more than 5 visitors in wheelchairs at any given time - slots cannot be reserved, visitors may have to wait
- the Grand Palais auditorium (Champs-Elysées entrance) has reserved spaces for wheelchair users
- exhibition room D (CHamps-Elysées entrance) is not accessible to wheelchair users (room accessible only by 11 steps)

Visual impairment:
- transparent glass walls/doors marked with contrasting elements
- no obstacles at eye level
- stairs with tactile and visual contrast before first step down and continuous hand rail
Audiodescription:
- for individuals, certain exhibitions have a selection of works (around 10) available in audiodescription by renting an audioguide (ID required), may come with thermal foil cases
- accompanied by a tour guide, audiodescription tours are offered for a selection of works reproduced in relief with adapted commentary; groups then rejoin the main exhibition to explore through various techniques

Hearing impairment:
- booking and contact only by email
- exhibitions offer leaflets in French and English
- amplifier in the gift shop and at the group welcome desk (Champs-Elysées entrance)
- guided tours in French Sign Language are offered in the majority of exhibitions at the Grand Palais
- group audioguides for hire

Mental disability:
- trained/educated staff
- easy-to-understand signs
- monitored entrance visible from reception/till

Site tested and approved in 2015 by 'Paris en Fauteuil Roulant' ('Paris in a Wheelchair'): https://www.facebook.com/parisenfauteuilroulant/

Paris for people with disabilities

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