Jeu de Paume

The Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, located in Paris, is a renowned arts centre dedicated to modern and postmodern photography and media. Situated in the north corner of the Tuileries Gardens next to the Place de la Concorde, it offers a unique blend of history and contemporary art. Constructed in 1861, the building was originally designed for the game of real tennis, but later transformed into a gallery. It became an independent gallery in 1922, showcasing modern foreign works and avant-garde style. During WWII, it was used by the Nazis to store looted art, with French resistance curator Rose Valland secretly cataloguing the works. Post-war, it housed the Musée du Jeu de Paume, a world-renowned museum of impressionist painting. After a major renovation in 1989, it reopened in 1991 as France's first national gallery of contemporary art. Today, it hosts retrospectives dedicated to international artists and is subsidized by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication. The Jeu de Paume's rich history and diverse exhibitions make it a must-visit for art enthusiasts.