Public Events
The UNESCO House hosts a wide variety of free events all year: concerts, shows, ceremonies, screenings, exhibitions and conferences.These events are open to the public. To remain informed about the upcoming events, follow us on Facebook, Instragram and #maisondelunesco (in French).
21 and 22nd September,from 10.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. | SPECIAL EVENT
EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS AT UNESCO HOUSE
To discover a jewel of modern architecture and a collection of unique works of art, to test technologies that make access to heritage fun, to learn and debate, to introduce heritage preservation to children. Programme (in French - English version to be available in September)
UNESCO Campus
UNESCO offers thematic debate sessions, specifically dedicated to students aged 14-17 years, who mostly come from educational priority zones in Paris and its surrounding suburbs.
These sessions aim to teach this new generation of citizens about the important contemporary issues UNESCO focuses on in its work, such as citizenship, peace, girls' education, freedom of expression, the values of sport, the ocean and climate change. During these two-hour Campus sessions, the students interact with UNESCO specialists and experts from civil society.
If you are a teacher and would like your class to participate, please visit our UNESCO Campus page.
Services
Library
UNESCO’s Library and Archives reading room is a place for its staff, delegates and external researchers (upon registration) to carry out research and find reference sources. Readers have direct access to practically all archives and publications issued by UNESCO (or under its auspices), as well as a selection of scholarly titles devoted to the areas of UNESCO’s expertise. It is an ideal place to work in an intellectually stimulating environment.
- Monday to Friday
9:30am to 5:30pm - Hall Segur - Ground floor
- Wheelchair accessible
- Wifi Zone
Bookshop
The UNESCO Publishing bookshop features all sales publications in stock and a growing UNESCO-related gifts section.
Among our latest publications, you will be able to find our World's Heritage definitive guide to all the World Heritage sites, fine books about art and culture, as well as children's books to sensitize them to sustainable development and lasting peace issues. In our bookshop, you will also find the UNESCO Courier, the historic journal of the organization published every three months.
- Monday to Friday
9am to 1:15am
2:15pm to 6pm - Hall Saxe - Ground floor
- Wheelchair accessible
The Organization's paper, audio and video archives are accessible upon request.
Restaurant
UNESCO has three catering areas: the Restaurant, the Bar du 7eme étage and the Bar des Conférences. These spaces are open to the public.
Whether it is a VIP cocktail for 50, an inaugural reception for 250, a grand banquet for 1,300, a gala dinner or a special celebration, the highly adaptable UNESCO Restaurant Service is able to propose several types of menus or customize its offers, depending on the request. The venues for catering, the choice of menus, the elegance of the table decorations and the team of professionals in the kitchen and in the dining area make a perfect combination to help ensure the success of an event.
Restaurant reservation: send us an email or call: +33 (0)1.45.68.16.00
- Restaurant & Caféteria:
12am-2:30pm, 7th floor - Bar du 7ème étage:
8:30am-5pm, 7th floor - Bar des Conférences:
8:30am-4pm, floor -1
Organize your Event
Located near the Eiffel Tower, right in the heart of Paris, the iconic UNESCO Headquarters, a jewel of modern architecture, offers its Secretariat and Member States a variety of conference rooms and exhibition spaces that are also available for the events and meetings of institutions, foundations, associations and companies whose activities coincide with the ideals of the Organization.
From Room I, ideal for major conferences and ceremonies, as well as for a variety of cultural productions, and the Ségur Hall, which showcases large exhibitions, to the panoramic restaurant on the 7th floor for special events catering, UNESCO provides event planners with an opportunity to offer their guests exclusive meetings and prestigious cultural events in the most international building in Paris.
Space Rental: Contact us and Organize your event now
Whether it is a VIP cocktail for 50, an inaugural reception for 250, a grand banquet for 1,300, a gala dinner or a special celebration, the highly adaptable UNESCO Restaurant Service is able to propose several types of menus or customize its offers, depending on the request. The venues for catering, the choice of menus, the elegance of the table decorations and the team of professionals in the kitchen and in the dining area make a perfect combination to help ensure the success of an event.
Restaurant reservation: send us an email or call: +33 (0)1.45.68.16.00
Art and Architecture
The Hotel Majestic on the Avenue Kléber in Paris was UNESCO’s temporary home until 1958, when it moved to its present headquarters on the Place de Fontenoy.
Located on the Place de Fontenoy, in Paris, the main building, which houses the Headquarters of UNESCO, was inaugurated on 3 November 1958.
The Y-shaped design was conceived by three architects of different nationalities under the direction of an international committee. Nicknamed the ‘three-pointed star’, the entire edifice stands on 72 columns of concrete piling. It is world famous, not only because it is the home of a well-known organization but also because of its outstanding architectural qualities.
Three more buildings complete the headquarters site. The second building, known affectionately as the "accordion", holds the egg-shaped hall with a pleated copper ceiling where the plenary sessions of the General Conference are held. The third building is in the form of a cube. Lastly, a fourth construction consists of two office floors hollowed out below street level, around six small sunken courtyards.
Plans for the three headquarters buildings were prepared jointly by:
- Marcel Breuer of the United States: architect and designer, Marcel Breuer has taught and lectured in universities and art institutes in the United States and other countries. He is the author of many widely published articles on art and architecture. His important projects include the Centre and Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College; the Grosse Pointe Public Library; and the airport terminal buildings at Fairbanks and Anchorage.
- Pier Luigi Nervi of Italy: engineer, architect, teacher and writer, Pier Luidi Nervi has designed and constructed many buildings in Italy, making special use of reinforced concrete. These projects include stadiums, theatres, industrial plants, department stores and airport buildings.
- Bernard Zehrfuss of France: architect and adviser to many official and private organizations, Bernard Zehrfuss won the Rome Grand Prix. Among his works are the National Centre for Mechanized Industries, the Renault motor car works at Flins and many housing projects in France, Algeria and Tunisia.
An international panel of five architects approved their project: Lucio Costa (Brazil), Walter Gropius (United States), Charles Le Corbusier (France), Sven Markelius (Sweden) and Ernesto Rogers (Italy). American architect Eero Saarinen was also consulted.
The buildings, which are open to the public for special events, contain many remarkable works of art. As soon as the architectural plans for the site at the Place de Fontenoy had been approved, UNESCO commissioned a number of great artists to create works to adorn the future premises. In some cases, the works are also intended to evoke the peace that the institution has sought to establish and preserve throughout the world.
Over the years, other works were acquired. Various Member States donated some to the Organization, including works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, Erró, Alberto Giacometti, Eduardo Chillida, Henry Moore, Rufino Tamayo or Isamu Noguchi, among others. Both famous and unknown artists all have their place in this universal museum that echoes the diversity of artistic creation throughout the world.
Location
UNESCO Headquarters are located at 7, place de Fontenoy in the heart of Paris.
Visits to UNESCO Headquarters are temporarily suspended. Nevertheless, high schools are invited to participate in UNESCO Campuses.
UNESCO does not offer parking facilities. We recommend using public transport.
By Metro: Ségur-UNESCO, Cambronne, Ecole militaire
By Bus: 28, 80
Velib'Sation: n° 15009 Suffren, 140 avenue de Suffren