Culture
Bourse du Commerce, Les Halles
The Bourse de Commerce, formerly a granary and built in 1767, was transformed in 2021 by architect Tadao Ando. It now houses François Pinault’s private-art collection, showcasing contemporary artworks by artists such as Boris Mikhailov, Daniel Steegmann Mangrané and Anicka Yi.
Fondation Cartier, 1st arrondissement
Following an extensive renovation, Fondation Cartier reopened in 2025 with a 40-year retrospective featuring 600 works from the institution’s collection. While the exterior of the 1855 building has been preserved, the interior was transformed by architect Jean Nouvel. At its centre, five platforms are capable of hoisting monumental sculptures towards the 11-metre-high ceiling and can be staggered to reconfigure the floorplan, allowing every show to feature not just new art but a new museum layout.
Musée Bourdelle, Montparnasse
Visitors to Antoine Bourdelle’s home-turned-museum can admire monumental sculptures such as “Hercules the Archer” and “The Dying Centaur”. His studios are filled with tools, unfinished works and his personal effects. On the first floor is Le Rhodia café, designed by Studio Freudenthal.
La Sainte Chappelle, Île de la Cité
Commissioned by King Louis IX in the 13th century, this dazzling chapel was built to house the holiest of all relics, the crown of thorns, and project French power and know-how throughout Christendom. Centuries on, its recently restored stained-glass windows – more than 1,000 in number – remain at the peak of French gothic architecture.
Musée Carnavalet, Le Marais
Under Baron Haussmann the city of Paris bought the gorgeous Hotel de Ligneris in the heart of the Marais. The aim was to transform it into a museum of the French capital’s history, which it retraces to this day, from the stone age to the 21st century.
Jeu de Paume, 1st arrondissement
Built at the edge of the Jardin des Tuileries, this gallery used to house the “jeau de paume” players, a precursor to tennis. It now presents photography, video, installations and web-art in its aim to construct a dialogue between poetry and politics.
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