Grand Palais (Grand Palais) description and photos - France: Paris (Topic)

Grand Palais (Grand Palais) description and photos - France: Paris. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Grand Palais.

Photo and description

The Grand Palais (Grand Palace) on the Champs Elysees is a luxurious Beaux-art building, a major cultural and exhibition center.

It was built for the World exhibitions of 1900. At first, they doubted whether it would be possible to overshadow the success of the Eiffel Tower at the last exhibition? We decided that this time the emphasis will be on art. The Grand Palais des Beaux-Arts (the full name of the Grand Palais) became part of a large-scale redevelopment of the western part of Paris.

Construction was difficult. The soil could not support the weight of the building, 3400 oak piles were needed, because of this, the estimate was greatly exceeded. A gigantic amount of stone, steel, rubble, bricks, machinery and hands was required. One and a half thousand builders also created problems - strikes broke out.

The result was worth it. A majestic building with a steel frame, a huge glass roof, a large number of statues, friezes, mosaics appeared. Bronze quadrigues by Georges Resipon crown both wings of the facade - allegorical statues represent Immortality, ahead of time, and Harmony, triumphant over discord. The inscription on the pediment proclaims that the Republic dedicates this building to the glory of French art.

From the very beginning, the Palace has become a venue for exhibitions - dedicated to innovation and technology and, of course, art. It was here that Matisse and Gauguin gained recognition, it was here that Cubism, led by an unknown Picasso, first declared itself.

During World War II, the building was requisitioned as a military hospital with a thousand beds. Painters and sculptors not subject to mobilization decorated wards or made molds for prostheses. During the occupation, the palace was used for holding Nazi propaganda exhibitions, and during the liberation of Paris - as the headquarters of the Resistance.

Now the Grand Palais is still an art center. Exhibitions, fashion parades (the Chanel fashion house holds its shows here), car dealerships, horse shows, book fairs, live concerts, the World Fencing Championship - it's hard to list all the events that take place under the glass roof of the Grand Palace of Fine Arts.

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Topic: Grand Palais (Grand Palais) description and photos - France: Paris.