The Centre Georges Pompidou, colloquially known as Beaubourg, is an iconic multicultural complex located in the Beaubourg area of Paris's 4th arrondissement. Designed in high-tech architectural style by Richard Rogers, Su Rogers, Renzo Piano, and Gianfranco Franchini, it debuted in 1977. Famed for its groundbreaking "inside-out" design, the structure features exposed, color-coded functional systems on its exterior—such as blue climate control ducts, green plumbing pipes, yellow electrical casings, and red safety and circulation elements.
Inside, the complex houses Europe's largest modern art museum, the Musée National d'Art Moderne, alongside the vast Bibliothèque publique d'information (BPI) library and the IRCAM acoustic research center. Outside, visitors gather on the vibrant Place Georges Pompidou plaza, famous for its lively street performers like mimes and jugglers, as well as the whimsical nearby Stravinsky Fountain with its moving sculptures by Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint-Phalle. Please note that the main Centre Pompidou building is closed for a major modernization and renovation project from 2025 until 2030.
During this extensive multi-year closure, the BPI library operates from its temporary Lumière location, while parts of the national collection are displayed across France and internationally through the special "Constellation" program.
What to see at Centre Georges Pompidou
- High-tech 'inside-out' architecture with exposed, color-coded exterior pipes and ducts
- Musée National d'Art Moderne, the largest museum for modern art in Europe
- Lively Place Georges Pompidou plaza featuring street mimes and jugglers
- Whimsical Stravinsky Fountain with 16 moving and water-spraying sculptures
Visiting tips
Check the 'Constellation' program off-site schedule to view national collection exhibitions across France during the main building's 2025–2030 closure.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Spring
How to get there & what’s nearby
Centre Georges Pompidou is easy to reach on Paris’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Eiffel Tower and The Louvre. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Paris travel guide.
See the full Paris travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.