Although most Paris museums host special exhibitions in addition to their permanent collections, some venues are best known for their special exhibits.

The Grand Palais, a crystal palace built for the World's Fair in 1900, today hosts special exhibits. One of the largest exhibition spaces in Paris, the Grand Palais can present extensive international exhibitions. More...

Facing the Grand Palais across the Avenue Winston Churchill (map), the Petit Palais hosts smaller exhibitions, particularly fine arts shows.

The Hôtel de Ville or city hall also is the site of traveling exhibitions. Recent shows have focused on Jacques Prévert and Gustave Eiffel.

The Musée de Luxembourg, next to the Sénat and on the edge of the Jardin de Luxembourg, is a major site of special exhibitions. The museum was originally located in the Palais de Luxembourg and in 1750 became the first museum in France open to the public. Shows in the past decade have focused on such artists as Chagall, Matisse, Botticelli, and Titian.

If you're interested in modern art, the Centre Pompidou is known for its special exhibitions of modern works, as is the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

The Musée Maillol, on rue de Grenelle, features the works of Aristide Maillol and also regularly hosts special exhibitions. In fact, the museum is only open when there is an exhibition on.

Information on these and other special exhibitions may also be found in the weekly shows-and-events magazine pariscope, available at newsstands.

Hôtel de Ville, Paris, France

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