Palais Omnisports de Bercy

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This is the Palais Omnisports de Bercy, or POPB, probably the most versatile sports/entertainment venue in Paris. Designed by architects Andrault, Parat, and Guvan in 1984, this facility can host up to 22 different types of sporting events and seats 17,000 spectators. The POPB is located next to the parc de Bercy, a very pretty and unusual park just behind the camera in this photo; the park is in eastern Paris, just east of the huge Ministry of Finance building (when you see references to “Bercy” in the popular press, they are usually talking about this ministry).

In addition to sporting events, the POPB also hosts large musical concerts and other artistic events. It is almost continously booked, all year long.

One thing that puzzles me about this building is the grass on the external walls. Yes, that green stuff is real grass: a nice, green lawn right on the side of the building, on a 45-degree slope. I haven't figured out how they mow the stuff, and I've never been around when they do it, so I've not been able to see what they use (some special lawnmower?).

Photographed on July 31, 2000.