Centre Pompidou (avant-garde complex)

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Paris, France
Centre Pompidou (avant-garde complex)
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The Centre Pompidou is an avant-garde complex housing a modern art museum and large public library where all the interior pipes, ducts, and steel skeleton are on the outside! It was built in 1977. It is fun to look at its exterior, which is color-coded: blue for air-conditioning ducts, green for plumbing pipes, yellow for electrical, and red for elevators, escalators, and stairways.

A sunny, slanted square called Place Georges Pompidou sits in front, and an awesome modern art fountain on the side called Fontaine Stravinsky! Spend some time lazing in the square with the other young, groovy people. There are a few vendors selling ice cream and other touristy items, and sometimes street performers such as jugglers. Kids love to hop on the cobblestones with their unique circular pattern. The modern art fountain is memorable! Here, sixteen colorful, whimsical shapes like lips, hearts, a musical clef, a hat, a mermaid, and an elephant move and shoot out water. The fountain is unique because two sculptors merged their works in it- the black mechanical sculptures are by Jean Tinguely and the colored sculptures are by Nike de Saint-Phalle. They contrast nicely with each other.
Inside, the museum is a typical modern art museum. There are some cafes in the streets around the center. A two-storey carousel can be found nearby outside the Hotel de Ville metro station. It's nice to check out the beautiful Hotel de Ville (City Hall), built in the 16th century. The Hotel de Ville is particularly gorgeous at night when illuminated.
The Centre Pompidou is a 12 minute walk from Notre Dame Cathedral.

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Place Georges Pompidou is a wonderful sunny plaza in front of the Centre Pompidou.

Parisians enjoying Place Georges Pompidou.

Red is the color of anything that moves people around the Centre Pompidou.

The large speakers in front of the Centre Pompidou.

Lazing in the sun at Place Georges Pompidou- bliss!

What a unique building!

Three boys sit in front of the Stravinsky Fountain.

The lips, in the Stravinsky Fountain, which sadly didn't have water when we visited.

The elephant in the Stravinsky Fountain.

The hat in the Stravinsky Fountain. See the multi-colored heart in the distance.

The blue is for AC ductwork and green is for plumbing, at the Centre Pompidou.

The Centre Pompidou, as seen from Rue du Renard.

The two-storey carousel in front of the gorgeous Hotel de Ville, nearby.

Directions

The Centre Pompidou is located at Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, in the 4th arrondissement. The nearest metro stations are Rambuteau and Hotel de Ville (which is a fun one because there's a two-storey carousel outside it).

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Last Updated: Mon, 12 Dec 2016 03:33:51 GMT

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