Parc des Princes

Overview

Parc des Princes is the 47,929-seat stadium in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, best known as the home ground of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) since 1974. Designed by architect Roger Taillibert, the stadium is celebrated for its bold cantilevered concrete roof and its intimate, steep bowl layout that places fans extremely close to the pitch.

Highlights

• Architectural design: Roger Taillibert's 1972 design features a striking, sculptural shell of reinforced concrete — entirely without supporting pillars, giving every seat an unobstructed view.
• VIP and locker room tour: The stadium tour passes through the presidential suite, the home and away changing rooms, the press conference room, and the players' tunnel with a pitch-side photo opportunity.
• Historic venue: Before PSG, the Parc hosted the 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cup matches, the 1984 European Championship final, and served as the finish-line perimeter for the Tour de France for decades.

History

The original Parc des Princes opened in 1897 as a velodrome at the edge of the Bois de Boulogne, used for cycling and rugby. It was demolished and rebuilt in its current form by Roger Taillibert between 1967 and 1972, becoming one of Europe's first purpose-built all-seater football stadiums. The construction required excavating 150,000 cubic meters of earth and the innovative "petal" roof design became an icon of Brutalist sports architecture. The stadium underwent further modernization between 2013 and 2016 ahead of UEFA Euro 2016.

Visitor Tips

• Stadium tours: Available daily outside match days — check the official website for schedules. Tours last approximately 60–90 minutes.