2 Venues and Legacy 2 10. Grand Palais 11. Esplanade des Invalides An imposing stone building with a splendid steel-framed glass roof, the Grand Palais The expansive, welcoming Esplanade des Invalides, situated right in the heart of is an iconic monument in the heart of Paris welcoming more than 40 highly eclectic Paris, will be a distinctive and fascinating venue to host Olympic and Paralympic events and drawing two million visitors each year. competitions. 7,000 12 km 6,000 12 km IThe venue Grand Palais will host the Fencing and Taekwondo I The venue The Esplanade des Invalides will host the Archery competitions for the Olympic Games and the competitions for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Grand Palais is an iconic heritage venue of Paris, Wheelchair Fencing competitions for the Paralympic The Esplanade des Invalides is a vast green space in located on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées in the Games. the 7th arrondissement, in front of the majestic Hotel I Location 8th arrondissement. The elegant Pont Alexandre III des Invalides. The elegant Pont Alexandre III connects connects it with the Esplanade des Invalides (Archery I Location this must-see landmark with the Grand Palais (Fencing, The Esplanade des Invalides is located 12 km south venue) on the left bank of the River Seine. Taekwondo and Wheelchair Fencing venue), on the of the Olympic andParalympic Village. It benefits from Grand Palais was designed by a group of architects on Grand Palais is located in the Paris city centre and just right bank of the River Seine. regular bus service as well as multiple rail connections the occasion of the Exposition Universelle (World Fair) 12 km south ofthe Olympic and Paralympic Village. It is This former meadow was turned into a 12-hectare through Metro lines 8 and 13 (the latter offers a direct of 1900, which coincided with the Olympic Games easily accessible as it benefits from regular bus service park by Robert de Cotte in the 18th century, who connection to the Olympic and Paralympic Village), held in the same year in Paris. Built in the Beaux-Arts as well as multiple rail connections through Metro lines thus provided a dramatic approach to the Hotel des Suburban railway RER C. It is also served by the Paris style and using the most advanced techniques of its 1, 9 and 13 (the latter being directly connected to the Invalides, built by Louis XIV in 1687 as a military hospital public bicycle-sharing system (Vélib’) and electric car time, the venue required 6,000 tons of steel to support Olympic and Paralympic Village), Suburban railway and retirement home for war veterans. The Hotel des sharing service (Autolib’) with multiple stations nearby. its nave. The nave and the Grand Palais as a whole have RER C. It is also served by the Paris public bicycle- Invalides, a complex of buildings containing museums been classified as historic monuments in 1975 and sharing system (Vélib’) and electric car sharing service and monuments all relating to the military history of I Experience 2000, respectively. (Autolib’) with multiple stations nearby. France is also world-renowned for containing the The venue has undergone extensive renovations over tomb of Napoleon. In its long history, the Esplanade des Invalides has the years to modernise its infrastructure and maintain I Experience The site features a north-south orientation and is hosted a number of events, ranging from large national its architectural splendour, most recently in 2012. With surrounded by rows of trees on its west and east sides. celebrations to the Exposition Universelle (World Fair) two million annual visitors and over 40 events staged Grand Palais hosted the FIE World Fencing One of the grand open spaces in the heart of Paris, it in 1900, which benefited from the large space to each year in 77,000 m² of exhibition space, it has Championships and the IWAS World Wheelchair has become a favourite leisure spot for Parisians and accommodate a number of national pavilions. proven its capability to host a range of events such Fencing Championship in 2010. visitors alike wanting to enjoy sport, music, gathering as art exhibitions, fashion shows, corporate galas and with friends, or just taking a relaxing walk. sport competitions. 32 - PARIS 2024 PARIS 2024 - 33