Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is the home stadium of Paris Saint-Germain FC. It offers a capacity of 48,527 seats.
The Parc de Princes was designed with the aim of providing a venue for important rugby and football matches. Works started in 1968 when the Velodrome, that stood in its place, was demolished. The new stadium was opened on the 4th of June 1972 by French president Georges Pompidou. The first match was the Coupe de France final between Olympique de Marseille and SC Bastia (2-1).
The stadium received many compliments, and several architectural prices, with its avant garde design by architect Roger Taillibert. Standing out are the 50 concrete columns that support the ring-shaped roof.
A year after the opening, in 1973, recently founded Paris Saint-Germain moved into the stadium. In the following decades the stadium regularly hosted matches of the French national team and Coupe de France finals, however since the construction of the Stade de France this has been limited to only one international match.
The stadium hosted two group matches and the final between France and Spain (2-0) at the Euro 1984 Championships. Fourteen years later, at the 1998 World Cup, the stadium hosted four group matches, a round of 16 match, and the match for third place between Croatia and the Netherlands (2-1).
The stadium was also a regular host of European cup finals in the first decade of its existence, hosting the Champions League (European Cup) final in 1975 (FC Bayern-Leeds United) and 1981 (Liverpool-Real Madrid), and the Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1978 (Anderlecht-Austria Wien). In 1995 it hosted another Cup Winners’ Cup final (Real Zaragoza-Arsenal), and in 1998 the first ever Europa League (UEFA Cup) single-leg final between Internazionale and Lazio (3-0).
Getting there
The Parc de Princes is built on top of the Parisian ring road Périphérique. It lies approximately 4 kilometres south-west of the Eiffel Tower, and less than 1 kilometre south of the southern edge of the Bois de Boulogne and the Roland Garros tennis complex.
Coming from the southern section of the Périphérique take exit D910/Boulogne (in the tunnel). Turn left at the end of the ramp (you will already see the stadium) onto the Avenue de la Porte de Saint-Cloud and then the first right onto the Rue du Commandant Guilbaud.
Coming from the north take the exit toward Boulogne/Avenue de la Porte de Saint-Cloud, and then turn right on top of the ramp following the same directions as above.
Metro stop Porte de Saint-Cloud on line 9 is the closest stop to the stadium, an approximate 5-minute walk. Line 9 passes through the Parisian city centre on the north bank of the Seine, and connects with a multiple of other lines. Alternatively one can take line 10 and get off at stop Porte d’Auteuil, which is a slightly longer walk. Line 10 connects the stadium with various stops on Paris’ south bank, if that’s where you’re coming from.
Porte de Saint-Cloud station is also served by buses 22, 62 and 72, whereas Porte d’Auteuil is served by buses 32 and 52. All buses run through the city centre in different ways.
Address: 24 Rue du Commandant Guilbaud, 75781 Paris Cedex 16
Tickets
Tickets for PSG games can be bought online (for registered users), by phone 32 75, or at the PSG service point at the stadium.
Ticket prices depend on the opponent and can start at anything between €15.00 and €40.00.
Stadium tours
The stadium runs guided stadium tours that include the dressing rooms, players’ tunnel, VIP boxes, and trophy room. Tours run every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (except matchdays and the day before and after a match), and last 60 minutes. During the school holidays more tours may be available. Tours are limited to 80 people.
Tours run multiple times a day – check the PSG website for specific hours. Tours can be booked by phone 32 75, at the PSG shop (27 Avenue des Champs-Élysées), or at the PSG service point at the stadium. The tour costs €10.00.
Relevant Internet links:
Psg.fr – Official website of Paris Saint-Germain FC.
Leparcdesprinces.fr - Official website of the Parc des Princes.
Parisinfo.com – Official website of the Paris tourism office.
RATP.fr – Paris public transport maps, timetables, and fare information.
