Fondation Louis Vuitton

History

LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault commissioned the building from architect Frank Gehry in the early 2000s, intending it as a home for contemporary art under the Louis Vuitton Foundation. Gehry designed a structure of twelve glass "sails" wrapped around an iron-framed core, built to evoke a ship or cloud floating above the trees of the Bois de Boulogne. Construction ran from 2008 to 2014, delayed at points by legal challenges over building in a public park, and the foundation opened to the public in October 2014.

The building itself became one of the most discussed pieces of architecture in Paris, praised for its technical ambition and criticized by some for its scale and cost inside a public park. Its glass panels, each individually curved and no two exactly alike, were among the most complex ever manufactured for a building at the time.

The foundation's collection focuses on contemporary and modern art from the late 20th century onward, including works by Gerhard Richter, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Ellsworth Kelly, alongside a program of large-scale temporary exhibitions that has included major retrospectives of artists such as David Hockney and Alexander Calder. The building also houses an auditorium used for concerts and talks, and its terraces, arranged around the glass sails, give views over the surrounding park and the Paris skyline.

Opening Hours & Wait Times

The foundation is closed every Tuesday, plus 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December. Hours during a running exhibition are longer than during the gaps between exhibitions.

Between exhibitions, when only the permanent collection and the building's architecture are open to visitors, hours shrink to Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with weekends from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Tuesday stays closed either way. This is the case right now, since the previous exhibition ended in August 2026 and the next one doesn't open until 9 October 2026, so double-check the current hours when booking. Galleries are cleared 15 minutes before closing, and last entry is roughly 30 minutes after the time shown on your ticket at the latest.

Demand for major exhibitions can be significantly higher than usual, and buying on-site is unreliable: same-day tickets sell out often, sometimes leaving only slots several days out. Booking online in advance is the more dependable option and comes with skip-the-line access.

Tickets & Prices

Proof of eligibility (student ID, press card, disability card, etc.) is checked at the entrance for every reduced or free category. A ticket includes access to all open exhibition spaces plus the Jardin d'Acclimatation next door. Between exhibitions, a reduced single rate applies instead of the standard tiered pricing above; check the current rate when booking if you're visiting during a gap between shows.

Tickets bought on-site are subject to availability and often sell out same-day during a popular exhibition. Booking online in advance guarantees your slot and comes with skip-the-line access at the entrance.

Getting There

The foundation sits inside the Bois de Boulogne, further out than most sights in central Paris, so plan a few extra minutes for the walk or shuttle from the nearest transport.

The electric shuttle is the easiest option for most visitors: it runs from exit 2 of the Charles de Gaulle – Étoile metro and RER station, roughly every 20 minutes during opening hours, for 2.00 € round trip. Buying a shuttle ticket requires an individual exhibition ticket as well; it isn't available for groups. Walking from Les Sablons through the Bois de Boulogne is free and takes about 15 minutes, a pleasant option in good weather.

Address: 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, 75116 Paris, France

Highlights of the Fondation Louis Vuitton

Good to Know

Liquids, including water bottles, aren't allowed inside the building for security reasons, and sharp objects are also prohibited. The free public cloakroom takes backpacks and umbrellas, which aren't allowed in the galleries, but doesn't accept luggage, folding bikes, scooters, or other bulky items, so plan accordingly if you're arriving with baggage.

Free guided "micro-visits" run throughout the day without needing a reservation, covering the building's architecture and commissioned artworks; they're in French only. A free visitor app is also available for iOS and Android with self-guided content on the architecture and current exhibitions.

Wheelchairs and folding seats are available at the reception desk while supplies last. The restaurant, Le Frank, and the on-site café both require a valid entrance ticket to access, and can be entered starting at the time printed on your ticket.

Current & Upcoming Exhibitions

Both current exhibitions were fully booked at the time of writing, and the foundation runs on reduced hours between shows. The upcoming exhibition explores painter and collector Gustave Fayet through his own work and pieces from his personal collection, including paintings by Van Gogh and Gauguin.

Frequently Asked Questions