Centre Georges Pompidou

In the middle of historical Paris, surrounded by typical French cafés with miniature chairs and buildings centuries old, stands le Centre Georges Pompidou, a convoluted, inside-out, tubular mass of colors and glass, an example of modernity and efficiency. Since its opening in 1977, Centre Pompidou has become not only the contemporary center of Paris, but a place where everyone can come together to access all culture and all forms of art as freely as possible. Its exterior consists of all the structural elements and the circulation system and pipes, even the escalators, leaving the whole interior as a space for its impressive two story art collection, its public library, its music library, and its constantly new forms of live performance. With an art collection ranging from major modernist and contemporary painters like Picasso, Kandinsky, Man Ray, Dubuffet, and Dali, everyone will find something they can appreciate. Caution: Entering the museum may cause bewilderment, amazement, interest, anger, confusion, and fear.