Parc des Prés

Have you ever wondered what stood on the site of Parc des Princes before the roar of football fans filled the air? Long before Paris Saint-Germain called it home, this area in the 16th arrondissement was a royal hunting ground and a place of leisure for kings and princes. This explains the name, Parc des Princes, a regal title that hints at its elegant past. The first Parc des Princes, built in 1897, wasn’t a football stadium at all, but a velodrome. Imagine cyclists whizzing around the track, the cheers of the crowd echoing through the trees. This original Parc des Princes even hosted the finish line of the Tour de France for many years, from its inception in 1903 until 1967. Football eventually found its way onto the field, and in 1905, the French national team played their first ever home game here against Switzerland. The stadium went through a major transformation in 1932, becoming a more modern venue. Parc des Princes continued to host significant sporting events. It was a stage for the 1938 FIFA World Cup and even the first ever European Cup final in 1956. The Parc des Princes as we know it today opened in 1972, a sleek, modern stadium designed by Roger Taillibert and Siavash Teimouri. Its elliptical roof, with integrated lighting, was a groundbreaking feature at the time. It wasn’t long before Paris Saint-Germain, now synonymous with Parc des Princes, took up residence in 1974. From George Weah and Raí to Zlatan Ibrahimović and Kylian Mbappé, football legends have graced this field. Today, Parc des Princes is more than just a stadium. It is a symbol of Parisian sporting passion, a place where history and modern sport intertwine. You can take a stadium tour to explore behind the scenes, or, if you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket, experience the electric atmosphere of a PSG match day.