Beaubourg Museum

Why the Beaubourg Museum is special
Its striking architecture (see photo) and its splendid modern art collection make it one of Paris's top attractions.

Beaubourg Museum tips and insights
Name
Beaubourg is the popular name of the museum, which it gained because it resides in the Beaubourg district of Paris. Officially, it's the Centre Georges Pompidou.

Artworks
The museum houses acclaimed works by Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Dali and other famous 20th century artists.

Once controversial
When it was opened in 1977, the unusual design was highly controversial. Its critics gave it many unflattering nicknames, including "garish oil distillery". Today, most Parisians relish its looks.

Striking architecture
The Beaubourg Museum has an inside-out architectural design. The steel superstructure and the utility pipes are exposed conspicuously on the outside, not hidden internally. This creates a conversation piece and allows broader, more flexible internal space for exhibiting modern art.

Color coded
To make the structure even more interesting to visitors, the exposed pipes are color coded: blue (air conditioning), white (ventilation), yellow (electricity) and green (water). And, the elevators and escalators are red coded.

View
After visiting the museum, go up to the top floor for an absorbing over-the-roof view of Paris.

Street scene
Jugglers, mimes and other street performers entertain the crowds in the square in front of the Beaubourg.

Location in France