Palais de Chaillot

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The complex was designed by architects Louis-Hippolyte Boileau, Jacques Carlu, and Léon Azéma for the 1937 World's Fair.

2. 2

   The bronze inscriptions on the building's cornices are verses by poet Paul Valéry.

3. 3

   The Musée de l'Homme houses the skull of René Descartes in its anthropology collection.

4. 4

   The massive fountains on the Trocadéro gardens below the terrace were designed to project water toward the Eiffel Tower.

5. 5

   The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by the United Nations General Assembly in the Palais de Chaillot in 1948.

6. 6

   The terrace platform was constructed on the foundations of the older Palais du Trocadéro, which featured a Moorish-Byzantine style.

7. 7

   The site includes the Théâtre national de Chaillot, a venue significant in contemporary dance and theater history.

Overview

The Palais de Chaillot is a monumental complex built for the 1937 Exposition Internationale on the Trocadéro hill in Paris. Its distinct neo-classical architecture consists of two curved wings separated by a wide central esplanade offering an elevated view across the Seine. The complex houses three primary institutions: the Musée de l'Homme, the Musée national de la Marine, and the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine. Beneath the central terrace lie the Trocadéro Gardens, characterized by their tiered fountains and gilded statues. The site is situated on the site of the former Palais du Trocadéro, which was demolished to make way for the current structures. The buildings are adorned with friezes, sculptures, and inscriptions by various artists commissioned during the 1930s. It serves as a central hub for viewing the Eiffel Tower, located directly across the river.

Insider tips

• Walk down through the Trocadéro Gardens toward the river after viewing the terrace to reach the Eiffel Tower area on foot.

• Visit the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine for life-sized casts of French medieval architectural details.

• Use the side paths near the wings to avoid the heavy congestion of the central esplanade.