The Tourist Attraction In Paris You Won't Be Able To Visit In 2024 (And Where To Go Instead)
Paris may be the city of light, love, beautiful bridges, and boulevards, but if you have a heart for art, then you're there for the incredible museums too. According to the Paris Discovery Guide, visitors have around 130 different museums to enjoy any time they book a stay in France's capital city. Among the destinations that dazzle those with a passion for artistic inspiration is the one-of-a-kind Centre Pompidou.
Since its opening in 1977, the Centre Pompidou has been a place where visitors enjoying a trip to Paris can admire a vast collection of contemporary artwork in a building that's impossible to miss thanks to its unique exterior. Designed by architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, the Centre Pompidou hosts an inside-out design where the facade features a maze of pipes one would expect to see among interior air conditioning and electrical units. The contrast is strategic, and inside, guests have access to 10 levels of display space as well as two screening rooms, a theater, a conference room, a library, a restaurant, and a research center.
Statista reported around 3 million visitors enjoying time at the Centre Pompidou in 2022, but that number is destined to decrease drastically in 2024. That's because the museum is slated to undergo a massive restoration in the later part of the year that will see its doors closed to the public through 2030. This means travelers have mere months left to add the Centre Pompidou to their must-visit list before reconstruction officially begins.
A contemporary and creative alternative to consider
Current plans are to keep the Centre Pompidou open and operational through the end of the summer 2024 Olympics in Paris. The games are scheduled to be held from July 26 through August 11, 2024. After that timeframe, the museum will shutter its doors for several years as renovations get underway that focus on restoring areas of corrosion throughout the building. The museum is also set to expand the floor plan to make room for added exhibition halls and theaters.
While the extended closure of the beloved Centre Pompidou is sure to be disappointing to travelers, the bright side of it all is that Paris is a city filled with artistic possibilities. There is no shortage of options for visitors who are hoping to specifically enjoy modern art-inspired moments. If you're looking for a museum you can swap for the Centre Pompidou in 2024, the Palais de Tokyo is a great place to start.
This dynamic museum is situated in the 16th arrondissement of the city between two iconic landmarks. When you visit the Palais de Tokyo, you're well within reach of both the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Elysées. That said, there's a good chance that the bold modern art exhibits within will capture your attention too. In 2012, the Palais de Tokyo earned the title of Europe's largest contemporary art center, so be sure to set aside a few hours to take in the array of impressive displays when you drop by.
Expand your art-viewing options in Paris
The modern paintings, multimedia displays, and sculptures at the Palais de Tokyo are always fascinating. However, art enthusiasts ready to broaden their horizons have even more options to consider when a stop at the Centre Pompidou is off the table. Destinations like the Musée du Quai Branly showcase art from around the globe with a unique lens on indigenous artifacts, art, and history alike.
Travelers might be surprised to find that from time to time, The Louvre hosts temporary exhibits designed by modern artists that can be enjoyed across its smaller galleries. These provide a fascinating contrast to the regal exhibition halls many visitors come to admire. The temporary exhibits offer a brief (but exciting) one-of-a-kind way to make the most out of your visit. Most recently, the museum welcomed artists Glenn Brown and Pierre Soulages to display their contemporary art within the walls of this historic museum, much to the delight of guests.
If your artistic interests lean towards cubism, you won't want to miss out on time well spent at the Musée National Picasso-Paris. The Musée Guimet is a destination entirely dedicated to Asian art exhibits, while an afternoon at the Musée de Cluny will have you immersed in the stunning world of medieval art and design right in the heart of Paris. Here, you can admire tapestries that date back to the 1500s which are meticulously preserved and displayed alongside era-specific clothing, illuminated manuscripts, and stained glass.