Fondation Louis Vuitton

Since 2014, a strange glass and steel vessel can be found settled on the borders of the Jardin d’Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne. It is the Louis Vuitton Foundation, an architectural masterpiece born from the meeting of two men: Bernard Arnault, chief executive of LVMH and collector and patron of contemporary art, and Frank Gehry, architect of international renown.

Often compared to an iceberg or a cloud, the façade of the Foundation, with its twelve glass “sails”, gives an incredible impression of lightness, ephemerality and flux. At the top, its terraces offer visitors unprecedented views over the green canopy of the Bois de Boulogne, the capital and the La Défense skyline. Artists like Olafur Eliasson, Daniel Buren and Ellsworth Kelly have been invited to create works both in and on the building, resulting in some astonishing in situ installations.

Artistic creation

The Foundation houses an exceptional collection of works from 1960 to the present day, with artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gilbert & George, Jeff Koons, Taryn Simon, Marina Abramovic, Gerhard Richter, Christian Boltanski and Pierre Huyghe. The vast range of mediums, languages and means of expression on display underlines contemporary art’s richness and range.

The foundation’s regular – and often blockbuster ­– temporary exhibitions focus on modern and contemporary art. Its 2016 display of the Chtchoukine Collection, for example, was the city’s most-visited exhibition since the Tutankhamun show in 1967 at the Petit Palais. Music and dance are also part of the programme, with the Foundation organising unique concerts and recitals and inviting choreographers from across the world to present their works in the auditorium.

A destination in western Paris

The Foundation is an ideal destination for families. There are tours available year-round especially tailored for 3-5 year olds, plus workshops for 6-10 year olds, which initiate children in the concepts and techniques of contemporary art. Plus, there is the Jardin d’Acclimatation right next door. Opened in 1860 by Napoleon III, this incredible, lush park is filled with play areas and amusements and entry is free when you show your entrance ticket from the Foundation.

Food lovers shouldn’t miss the Foundation’s restaurant, Le Frank, directed by the Michelin-starred chef Jean-Louis Nomicos. In a light and airy setting, under Frank Gehry’s golden fish, it serves delicious and inventive dishes that mix French gastronomic classics with exotic twists. The restaurant is also open in the evenings on the weekend.

Finally, to get to the Foundation easily, consider taking the shuttle bus (paying) which leaves from near the Arc de Triomphe on the Place de l’Etoile, on the corner with Avenue de Friedland.

Discover more contemporary architecture in Paris Region.