UNESCO House - visit us
Discover UNESCO Headquarters, a treasure of modern architecture and the fruit of collaboration between several iconic architects of the twentieth century such as Bernard Zehrfuss, Marcel Breuer and Pier Luigi Nervi.
The mission and actions of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will be the basis of your visit. It will allow you to discover how the organization works, the values it conveys and how it affects people's daily lives.
UNESCO's headquarters
The Place de Fontenoy in Paris is home to UNESCO's headquarters. Inaugurated on November 3, 1958, it is today the Organisation's main building.
Prior to its inauguration, the Hotel Majestic on Avenue Kléber, in Paris, was UNESCO's temporary home until it moved to its current headquarters on the Place de Fontenoy.
European Heritage Days 2021
Visits and questioning heritage!
Public Events
The UNESCO House hosts a wide variety of free events all year: concerts, shows, ceremonies, screenings, exhibitions and conferences open to the public and free.
To remain informed about the upcoming events, follow us on Facebook, Instragram
and subscribe to our the Newsletter here
Library & Archives
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.
Bookshop
Original and exclusive gifts all through the year!
At the UNESCO Book & Gift Shop our World Heritage coffee table books will invite you to travel, when the UNESCO Courier will keep you informed about the international debates of our time and with our publications dedicated to education, science, culture, communication and social sciences, you will definitely keep up with the latest trends and datas. And do not miss the Bouba & Zaza education collection for children!
Have a look at our exclusive UNESCO gifts, from textile, luxury products, handmade creations, sports items, to games for kids, most of them ethically produced with sustainable materials.
UNESCO Book and Gift Shop is open from Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Archives
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
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.
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(link is external) 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(link is external) 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(link is external) 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(link is external) (Brazil), Walter Gropius(link is external) (United States), Charles Le Corbusier(link is external) (France), Sven Markelius(link is external) (Sweden) and Ernesto Rogers(link is external) (Italy). American architect Eero Saarinen(link is external) 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.
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