2007-09-01

 

Initially, Le Parc des Princes was a first-class velodrome set in a verdant landscape that ran into the Bois de Boulogne. Built in 1897, it accommodated 3,200 spectators who came to cheer the finishing line of the Tour de France cycling race. Football matches were held there as early as 1899 - for the championship finals - and rugby followed soon after. In 1906 the French rugby team struggled against New Zealand for the first time at the Parc. With such a busy schedule, it became necessary to make the stadium larger; after a first restructuring it could hold 10,000. More work and a few years later, 20,000 spectators came to watch the Olympic Games that were contested there in 1924.

 

Although overshadowed by the nearby Colombes stadium, the Parc always retained its allure. This prompted massive renovations in 1932, resulting in a ‘new’, 45,000 seat multi-sport stadium. In 1954 the installation of 180 projectors made it possible for after-dark matches to be held there; on 13 June 1956, the very first European Cup’s very first final took place at the Parc des Princes.

 

Towards the end of the 1960s, with the construction of the ring road that would encircle Paris and run under the Parc, it was decided that the structure would be rebuilt. The project was awarded to the French architect Roger Taillibert. The new generation stadium was inaugurated 25 May 1972 with a France v USSR football match. Part of the elliptical arena is supported by pillars that hold it above the ring road. Built of prestressed concrete (77,000 m³ of it), it is the first stadium in Europe to have integrated lighting above. Its tiers are divided into upper and lower levels for a total of 48,527 seats.