SARRIÀ-SANT GERVASI GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Inside Paris’s Contemporary Core: An Architect-Guided Walk
A guided exploration of central Paris’s standout contemporary works — from the Centre Pompidou and the Louvre pyramids to the newly refurbished Samaritaine — led by an architect who explains current and upcoming transformations.
Inside Paris’s Contemporary Core: An Architect-Guided Walk.
With an architect as your guide, this walk through the centre of Paris rediscovers iconic contemporary interventions — from the avant‑garde Centre Pompidou to the five Louvre pyramids — and places them in the context of several major projects reshaping the city’s heart, including the Samaritaine’s elegant rehabilitation.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Centre Pompidou and the Louvre Pyramids
See and learn the design intent behind Paris’s most recognisable contemporary landmarks — the Centre Pompidou and the five Louvre pyramids — with an architect translating form, program and urban presence.
Major Projects Rewriting the Centre
Explore planned and recent interventions that will alter central Paris in the coming decade: the Les Halles canopy entrance, Tadao Ando’s rehabilitation of the Bourse de Commerce, Rem Koolhaas’s Lafayette Anticipations extension, and other high‑profile commissions.
Samaritaine: Art Deco Meets Contemporary Glass
Witness the Samaritaine’s transformation — the historic Art Deco/Art Nouveau complex refurbished as a luxury store with a striking glass curtain proposed by SANAA — and learn how conservation and contemporary intervention intersect.
What the day feels like
What the walk feels like
Guided by an architect, the day is a sequence of close readings of façades, volumes and urban gestures: the tour moves between celebrated contemporary pieces and emerging projects in the centre of Paris, offering both historical perspective and a view toward imminent change.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this experience suits
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This guided experience runs between 4 and 8 hours.
Meeting location is in Paris and is confirmed during the booking process.
The tour is operated by Artchitectours.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long does the tour last?
The tour duration is 4–8 hours.
Where is the meeting point?
The meeting location is in Paris and is to be confirmed during the booking process.
Who leads the tour?
An architect leads the tour, providing expert explanation of contemporary works in central Paris.
Which landmarks are included?
Highlights include the Centre Pompidou, the five Louvre pyramids and the refurbished Samaritaine, along with visits discussing projects such as the Les Halles canopy, the Bourse de Commerce by Tadao Ando, and the Lafayette Anticipations extension by Rem Koolhaas.
Who operates the tour?
The operator is Artchitectours.
Will we see the Samaritaine refurbishment?
Yes — the Samaritaine’s rehabilitation, including the glass curtain proposed by SANAA, is part of the described programme.