Criticised when it opened for its coloured pipes and factory look, the Centre Pompidou became one of the most visited cultural sites in Paris. Parisians simply call it Beaubourg, after its neighbourhood. Since September 2025 it has been closed for a major renovation. Here is its story, what you find inside and where to see its art until it reopens.
Key points
- The Centre Pompidou opened in 1977, an initiative of President Georges Pompidou.
- Its architects: Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, with Gianfranco Franchini.
- It houses the Musée national d’art moderne, one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in the world.
- Closed since 22 September 2025 for renovation, it is due to reopen in 2030.
A building that caused a scandal
In the 1970s the design shocked people: instead of hiding pipes, stairs and structure, the architects put them on the outside. The result is huge open floors inside for exhibitions. Each colour has a function:
- blue: air (air conditioning and ventilation)
- green: water
- yellow: electricity
- red: moving people (escalators, lifts)
The long outdoor escalator tube, nicknamed la chenille (the caterpillar), offers one of the best views over the rooftops of Paris.
What you find at the Centre Pompidou
- The Musée national d’art moderne: Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, Duchamp, Frida Kahlo and tens of thousands of 20th and 21st-century works.
- The Bpi (Bibliothèque publique d’information), a large free public library.
- Ircam, a research institute for music and sound.
- Cinemas and performance spaces.
- Next door, the Stravinsky Fountain, with colourful sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely.
Closed for renovation from 2025 to 2030
The Centre Pompidou closed completely on 22 September 2025. The works, led by the architecture firm Moreau Kusunoki, will remove asbestos, bring the building up to standard, cut its energy use and create new spaces, including a rooftop terrace. Reopening is planned for 2030.
Good to know: Ircam stays open on Place Stravinsky during the works, and the Bpi has moved to the 12th arrondissement.
Where to see the collection meanwhile
- At the Centre Pompidou-Metz, opened in 2010 in Lorraine.
- In partner venues such as the Grand Palais in Paris, through the Constellation programme.
- Abroad, at the Centre Pompidou Málaga and the Centre Pompidou in Shanghai.
- In Massy, south of Paris, where a new venue for the collections, the Centre Pompidou Francilien, is planned.
In the meantime Paris has plenty of other museums: see our article on the Louvre Museum.
Useful French art vocabulary
- une œuvre d’art (a work of art), un tableau (a painting), une sculpture, une installation
- une exposition temporaire (a temporary exhibition), une collection permanente
- un vernissage: the opening night of an exhibition
- l’art moderne (late 19th to mid-20th century), l’art contemporain (today)
Going further
Discover more symbols of France, take our free French level test or talk about art and culture with a teacher in our French conversation lessons.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Centre Pompidou called Beaubourg?
Because it stands in the Beaubourg neighbourhood, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near the Marais and Les Halles.
Is the Centre Pompidou open?
No. It has been closed since 22 September 2025 for a full renovation. It is due to reopen in 2030.
Who designed the Centre Pompidou?
The architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, with Gianfranco Franchini. The building opened in 1977.
What do the colours of the pipes mean?
Blue for air, green for water, yellow for electricity and red for moving people.
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