Quicksplained: What is Grand Palais, where PM Modi and Macron host AI summit?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in France to meet President Emmanuel Macron as part of the first leg of his two-nation visit.

The visit seeks to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and France, with both leaders set to chair an AI Action Summit, engage in bilateral discussions, and address business leaders.

ALSO READ | AI Summit, nuclear and defence deals: What India can expect from PM Modi’s France visit

During the summit, they will work with global leaders and technology executives to explore AI-driven innovations that benefit society.

The event, which will host around 1,500 attendees, will be held at Paris’ Grand Palais. It will include lectures and panel discussions focusing on both the opportunities and challenges associated with AI.

But what is Grand Palais? Ahead of this crucial meeting, we take a closer look at the venue where these key discussions will take place.

Here is a look:

Quicksplained: What is Grand Palais?

1. This historic venue hosted several events during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Now, it will serve as the setting for conferences, roundtables, and presentations under its iconic dome.

2. Constructed in 1900 for the Paris Universal Exhibition, the Grand Palais is a popular landmark in the heart of Paris. It is located between the River Seine and the Champs-Elysees.

3. The venue, which underwent a three-year renovation, was the site for fencing and taekwondo at the 2024 Olympics. Beyond the Games, it is known for hosting prestigious events, including art exhibitions, concerts, and fashion shows.

ALSO READ | What is ‘tech sovereignty’ which Macron-Modi will push for at Paris AI Summit?

4. Unlike conventional sports venues, the Grand Palais is a striking glass monument to French culture. It has remained closed to the public since 2021 and is expected to reopen this year.

5. During World War I, it served as a military hospital. In 2017, Tour de France cyclists raced through its steel-and-glass structure.

6. The venue has also hosted high-fashion catwalk shows for designers such as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Sonia Rykiel. In October 2009, the late pop icon Prince performed two concerts under its glass roof.

7. According to its official website, the Grand Palais has the largest glass roof in Europe, with 6,000 tons of steel used in its construction - more than the entire Eiffel Tower.

8. The building includes three main sections: the Galeries Nationales, the Palais de la Decouverte, and the Nave. The Nave, an iron-and-steel structure with stone walls, is topped by elegant glass vaults.

9. Dedicated “to the glory of French art,” the Grand Palais was originally designed to feature fine arts and France’s leadership in the field. Today, it hosts a diverse array of cultural events.

10. A restaurant-lounge, the Mini-Palais, is located between the Nave and the building’s grand colonnades. It provides a terrace with sweeping views of the surroundings.

PM Modi in France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome from the Indian diaspora upon his arrival in Paris. “A memorable welcome in Paris! The cold weather didn’t deter the Indian community from showing their affection this evening. Grateful to our diaspora and proud of them for their accomplishments,” he said.

Notably, Modi and Macron will hold discussions in both restricted and delegation formats and will also address the India-France CEO’s Forum.

In his departure statement, PM Modi said that the bilateral segment of his visit would provide an opportunity to review the progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for the India-France strategic partnership along with “my friend” President Macron.

On Wednesday, the two leaders will visit the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, to honour the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during World War I.

They will also inaugurate the first Indian Consulate in France and also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project.

Following his visit to France, the Prime Minister will travel to the United States for a two-day visit at the invitation of President Donald Trump.

The AI Summit will bring together tech leaders, heads of state, CEOs, and scientists from over 100 countries. Among the attendees will be US Vice President JD Vance, on his first overseas visit since taking office, and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing.

With inputs from agencies