NO MERCI
The popular free European attraction you can visit by train that’s set to close for five years
You can also fly for under £30
BRITS are being urged to visit a popular, free European attraction before it closes down for five years.
The cultural hub, which is set to undergo a major expansion, can be reached by a two-hour train journey from the UK.
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Situated in the centre of Paris, the Centre Pompidou attracts millions of guests every year from across the globe.
A haven for lovers of the arts, it houses the largest museum of modern art in Europe as well as a huge public library containing over 400,000 books and documents.
Built in the 1970s, the centre was named for former French President Georges Pompidou, who had a well-known passion for modern art and poetry.
It has also hosted a number of noteworthy exhibitions of fine art, including a collection of work by master painter Matisse in 2020 and renowned British artist David Hockney in 1998.
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Now, though, it is set to close for an extended period while the existing site is widened to make use of 20,000 sq ft bus park under the gallery piazza.
The new area will feature two large cinema areas and spaces for a range of new exhibitions.
The museum and library will both be fully refurbished, while a new restaurant will be opened on the south side of the complex.
A competition last May saw architects submit their designs, with the eventual winner going on to handle the £280 million project.
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The closure will be implemented gradually from the autumn of this year before a total shutdown next summer.
Work is then expected to begin in 2026, with the grand reopening pencilled in for 2030.
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The French government has provided around £224 million in funding already, with the rest being drawn from private investment.
Those looking to take the chance to visit the centre before the closure can make use of the Eurostar train direct to Paris from London St Pancras, which only takes a couple of hours.
Brits living a bit further afield than the capital also have the option of flying from major airports including Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Flights take anywhere from one to two hours and can cost as little as £27.
However, officials have confirmed that the closure will not mean a complete halt to the work of the museum.
France's former culture minister Rima Abdul Malak confirmed last year that it will take temporary residence in the national galleries at the nearby Grand Palais.
Staff will also work with other major museums in the city, including the Louvre, to present various exhibits elsewhere.
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